Quote Originally Posted by An t-Ileach
As a quick "back of the cigarette packet" calculation it should cost - at retail prices - about £150,000 per battalion (on war establishment) to kit them out with kilts [500 x £300]. That's only £900,000 for all six regular battalions - say, a grand total of £2Million for regular and reserves at retail prices and on war establishment (450 men - I don't know what peace establishment is now - say, 300?). That's probably a week's heating bill for the Scottish Parliament during the winter. I'm sure there're Scottish weavers and kiltmakers who would bid for the contract with that sort of money in the offing, but it's peanuts when set against the wastage at MOD. And it's a reducing cost, as the initial contract would be to equip all the battalions with kilts for all personnel - in future, as kilts are returned to the QM when people leave there'd only be a replacement and repair budget needed, meaning the cost to the taxpayer would be much less. Anyway, I'm sure if they put it to a referendum whether the taxpayers wanted to stomp up the money for the kilts I'm sure they'd get a resounding 'yes'.

(Oh, [after editing], and officers traditionally have to buy their own equipment in the British armed forces: so that takes out about 30 people per battalion.)
Of course, the best way to save money in this instance is to allow the Battalions to retain their old kilts/trews in their own tartans! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd