asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members of HM Armed Forces are currently based in Germany; how many civil personnel are also based there; and what legal and military duties the British personnel perform while in Germany. [HL983]
There are currently approximately 20,900 military and 2,200 UK civilian personnel based in Germany as part of the British force. Their presence in Germany is governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) of 19 June 1951 and by the supplementary agreement relating to the status of foreign forces in Germany dated 3 August 1959. The two principal British Army units in Germany are 1 (UK) Armoured Division and United Kingdom Support Command (Germany). 1 (UK) Armoured Division's primary task is to prepare force elements and individuals for operations. United Kingdom Support Command (Germany)'s mission is to provide the necessary range of operational, personnel, training and infrastructure support to enable and sustain military capability.
These units continue to be based in Germany as the UK is committed to its contribution to NATO and co-operation with its allies in the alliance. The UK also benefits from the opportunity to train armoured units in Germany, and to make use of training areas in Eastern Europe, which are less accessible from the UK. With the approval of the German Government, we plan to continue to station two armoured brigades and their supporting units in Germany for the foreseeable future.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the British military personnel will cease duties in Germany and leave the country; and whether the decision to relocate the British troops from Germany is one which is in the sole control of the Government. [HL984]
The move of 4 Mechanised Brigade back to the UK has been approved and will take place in late 2008.
The BORONA programme has been looking at the feasibility of moving further elements of our Germany-based forces to the UK, and in particular, the headquarters of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) with its intimate supporting elements, 102 Logistic Brigade (102 Log Bde) and 1 Signal Brigade (1 Sig Bde). Detailed plans are being drawn up for the moves, starting with HQ ARRC, which could move as early as 2009. The moves of the two brigades would be completed by 2014. With 4 Mechanised Brigade, this represents 30 per cent of UK service personnel based in Germany.
The decision to relocate the British troops from Germany is one which is in the sole control of the Government. The moves are subject to final approval by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, following scrutiny by and advice from the MoD's Investment Approvals Board.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current annual costs in relation to the presence of British troops and support services in Germany. [HL985]
The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate effort. However, operational, personnel, training and infrastructure support is provided to British Forces, Germany, by United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) and the expenditure in financial year 2006-07 was £243 million. This figure includes costs associated with pay for locally employed civilians, utilities, white fleet vehicle leasing and fuel, catering, leisure and retail activities, stores and the British Forces Germany Health Service. The figure does not include costs associated with military or UK based civilian pay, military equipment, service children's education facilities, estate works and maintenance, or IT and communications.