Oral Answers to Questions

David Hanson Excerpts

Monday 4th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

It is for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to celebrate, and carry the budget for celebrating, historic events. It does no country a disservice, however, to remember that we have benefited from our armed forces in security not only today but throughout our history.

[Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

12. What recent assessment he has made of the likely date for achievement of the objectives set for Operation Ellamy.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox)]

Operation Ellamy is helping to enforce UN Security Council resolution 1973. We have made it clear repeatedly, and I have done so in the House, that we will continue operations until Gaddafi stops attacking the Libyan people and they can live in peace and security.

[Mr Hanson]

I assure the Secretary of State that the Opposition support the objectives of the operation. For clarity, however, will he tell the House the cost to date of the operation, its ongoing monthly cost, and the financial provision he is making for the hopeful post-conflict activity that we discussed earlier?

[Dr Fox]

Assuming our operations continue until September, which is not unrealistic, we assess the cost to be about £260 million. I have set out the details of that in a written answer to the House.