Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of (a) UK military operations in Libya between 1 March and 31 August 2011, (b) the personnel deployed during those operations, (c) the ordinance deployed during those operations and (d) the fuel used during those operations.

The costs of military operations are compiled in terms of the net additional costs incurred, which are defined as those which the Department would not have incurred had the operation not taken place. The costs of Op ELLAMY were £21 million in Financial Year 2010-11 and £213 million in Financial Year 2011-12. The total includes £5 million for personnel costs and £114 million for the non-cash cost of weapons expended. In addition, £52 million was allocated for the replenishment of weapons expended in Financial Year 2011-12 and Financial Year 2012-13. Costs of fuel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.