U.K. Boosts Counterterrorism Budget

The United Kingdom has announced plans to increase its intelligence budget by about $2 billion by 2010 to support counterterrorism efforts, the London Guardian reported (see GSN, July 11, 2006).

In a pre-budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling said the United Kingdom’s current intelligence budget of about $5 billion would be boosted to roughly $7 billion.  The intelligence budget covers funding for the MI5 and MI6 intelligence agencies as well as police operations and other counterterrorism activities.

Darling also announced an addition of more than $800 million in new defense funds to support current military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Defense spending has already been expected to rise to $75 billion by 2010 in what Darling called “the longest period of rising investment in the defense of our country for almost 30 years.”

The defense funds are intended to pay for the construction of army vehicles with improved armor as well as two new aircraft carriers.

Darling added that money spent maintaining the nation’s Trident submarine-launched nuclear missiles would not undercut funds supporting the United Kingdom’s military actions abroad (see GSN, July 11, 2006; London Guardian, Oct. 9).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.