Troops Withdrawal from Germany to Cost UK

The UK will have to pay tens of millions of pounds to Germany before withdrawal of its troops from the country, former Labour Defence Minister Kevan Jones has said.

"Under the terms of long-standing Nato agreements, we are required to pay the Germans to make good facilities and bases we have used," he said.

The potential cost has misrepresented the coalition claims of saving money by pulling forces out by 2020, he added.

UK Ministry of Defence sources have projected long-term savings of more than £1bn from the withdrawal though admitting the initial costs involved.

The ministry, however, dismissed one report that estimated the overall cost of £5bn of pulling out the troops, according to the Daily Mail.

UK forces have been based in Germany since the end of the Second World War.