To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian staff of his Department based in the UK, (b) military personnel based in the UK, (c) civilian staff of his Department based in Saudi Arabia and (d) military personnel based in Saudi Arabia were employed by the (i) Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project and (ii) Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Project on 1 April 2014; and what the function is of each of those projects.
Answered on
9 September 2014
The number of civilian and military staff based in the UK and in Saudi Arabia working on both the Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications (SANGCOM) Project and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) on 1 April 2014 is shown in the table. The Saudi Arabian government reimburses the UK MOD for these staff costs and there is, therefore, no cost to the UK taxpayer.
Manpower number as at 1 April 2014 | SANGCOM Project | MODSAP |
UK-based Civilian Staff | 1 | 69 |
UK-based Military Staff | 0 | 42 |
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff | 28 | 32 |
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff | 20 | 50 |
The function of the SANGCOM Project is to support the United Kingdom’s commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by acquiring and supporting modern communications capabilities for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
The function of the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects is to support the United Kingdom’s commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia through the supply of modern military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons and associated support services to the Saudi Armed Forces.