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Britain war costs up 94%
10/03/2008 21:08 - (SA)
Kate Kelland
London - The cost of Britain's military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is forecast to almost double to more than £3bn this year, a parliamentary committee said on Monday.
The Defence Select Committee said in a report that the government was now expecting operational costs in both theatres to be £3.29bn for this financial year, a 94% increase on last year.
In Afghanistan forecast costs have risen by 48% to £1.42bn in 2007/08, an increase which the report's authors said was unsurprising given the increase in British forces there over the year and the "high operational tempo".
The report said the 52% forecast increase in costs in Iraq, despite a reduction in troop numbers, was significant and surprising.
The report called on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide a breakdown of the increase in capital costs in Iraq and to say when the costs there might begin to fall.
The committee recommended that parliament should approve the extra costs "given the importance of ensuring that our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are properly resourced," but said it was important for the government to be clear on where the money was being spent.
"Few people will object to the investment being made in better facilities and equipment for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," committee chairperson James Arbuthnot said.
"However, this estimate represents a lot of public money. The MoD needs to provide better information about what it is all being spent on."
- Reuters
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