To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the average annual cost, excluding deployment in operations of (a) Reaction Force Brigade and (b) Adaptable Force Brigade.

The future cost of a Reaction Force Brigade and an Adaptable Force Brigade will depend on the size, role and manpower mix of the units within each Brigade. Costs will be made up of a number of different elements including personnel, training, infrastructure, and equipment. Cost assessments will continue to develop as these Brigades are established over the next few years.