Question NW1889 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

In light of the fact that it was reported that her department is retaining 44 Defence Attache missions abroad, (a) in which (i) countries and (ii) missions are they based, (b) what are the total costs for each mission, (c) what are the strategic and other benefits of the Defence Attache missions in the specified countries and (d) given the reduced defence budget and increased strategic and military demand for financial resources, (i) what are the reasons she values the Defence Attache presence and costs as a higher priority than Goal 1 and Goal 2 of her department’s Annual Performance Plan and (ii) how does she justify the costs?