SECRET
starting figure of £7 million.
3.
Ministers collectively now require a report
on the outcome of your attempt to secure the
support of Executive Council for their proposals.
It is not clear from your telegrams what exactly
you have so far said to the Unofficial Members
about those proposals. What we are anxious that
you should make clear is that all along HMG have
seen no justification for the Colony's not
contributing at least as great a proportion of
overall garrison costs in 1971/72 as was agreed
in respect of costs for 1967/68.
There is no
evidence that this would in any way be an unfair
burden on the Colony.
Nevertheless Ministers
have agreed to accept a little less than parity
at an average of £8 million for 5 years. If
it helps you may add that it is now known that
the garrison (excluding all works costs) is going
to cost at least £24 million in 1972/73 of which
£14.5 million is estimated to be local costs.
The main reason for the increase over 1971/72 is an
increase in numbers of army personnel in various
units although the number of units remains unchanged
4. In your further discussions with Executive
Council you may explain that the figures in paragraph
2 of FCO telegram No 553 were provided to
illustrate the kind of arrangement that HMG would
be prepared to accept and that in the example
given the balance of capital works programme above
£15 million would be paid for by HMG. If it
2.
(8430) Dd.033246 600m 9/66 G.W.B Ltd. Gp 863
SECRET
/would
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.