Britain’s war in Libya could cost taxpayers £260 million, ministers have admitted.
An RAF Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon jet lands at the Gioia del Colle Nato Airbase in southern Italy Photo: REUTERS
Πηγή: The Telegraph
By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent
12:36PM BST 23 Jun 2011
The Ministry of Defence has published figures on the cost of airstrikes and naval operations against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
British attacks on Libya began in March. The MoD has budgeted for a six-month operation.
Service chiefs have publicly warned that they are worried about the impact on their forces if the conflict in Libya stretches beyond six months.
Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, told MPs that the cost was made up of £120 million in fuel and other operating costs for aircraft, warships and submarines.
Another £140 million will be required to replace the missiles and bombs that have been used in Libya.
The costs of the operation will be met by the Treasury from its reserve, Dr Fox said.
The likely cost of what the MoD calls Operation Ellamy is now significantly above the Treasury’s initial forecast, made in March, that the operation would cost “tens of millions of pounds.”
Dr Fox suggested that the bill was higher because the UK was using more expensive precision weapons, that reduce the chance of civilian casualties.
"We have to take into account that we have used more expensive precision weaponry so that we have minimised civilian casualties in Libya and if we are going to fight operations in the future based on minimising civilian casualties there is clearly a financial price to pay,” he told the BBC.
“I think that that shows that we are on the moral high ground, that we place a higher value on human life than the Gaddafi regime does."
Jim Murphy, the Labour shadow defence secretary, said that ministers should disclose more information about the impact of the operation on the Armed Forces.
He said: “We want the Government to be clearer on what stresses and strains operations in Libya are making on the core defence budget, and whether our standing commitments are or will be affected by the ongoing conflict.”
By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent
12:36PM BST 23 Jun 2011
The Ministry of Defence has published figures on the cost of airstrikes and naval operations against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
British attacks on Libya began in March. The MoD has budgeted for a six-month operation.
Service chiefs have publicly warned that they are worried about the impact on their forces if the conflict in Libya stretches beyond six months.
Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, told MPs that the cost was made up of £120 million in fuel and other operating costs for aircraft, warships and submarines.
Another £140 million will be required to replace the missiles and bombs that have been used in Libya.
The costs of the operation will be met by the Treasury from its reserve, Dr Fox said.
The likely cost of what the MoD calls Operation Ellamy is now significantly above the Treasury’s initial forecast, made in March, that the operation would cost “tens of millions of pounds.”
Dr Fox suggested that the bill was higher because the UK was using more expensive precision weapons, that reduce the chance of civilian casualties.
"We have to take into account that we have used more expensive precision weaponry so that we have minimised civilian casualties in Libya and if we are going to fight operations in the future based on minimising civilian casualties there is clearly a financial price to pay,” he told the BBC.
“I think that that shows that we are on the moral high ground, that we place a higher value on human life than the Gaddafi regime does."
Jim Murphy, the Labour shadow defence secretary, said that ministers should disclose more information about the impact of the operation on the Armed Forces.
He said: “We want the Government to be clearer on what stresses and strains operations in Libya are making on the core defence budget, and whether our standing commitments are or will be affected by the ongoing conflict.”
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