Britain's spending on its military mission in Afghanistan will be 2.4 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) less than expected in the years leading to 2015, Chancellor George Osborne said on Wednesday, March 21, Reuters reported.

"UK forces will cease combat operations by the end of 2014. As a consequence, I can tell the House (parliament), that the cost of operations ..... are expected to be a total of 2.4 billion pounds lower than planned over the remainder of the parliament," Osborne told parliament during the presentation of his annual budget.

Britain has some 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, but plans to end combat operations by the end of 2014. The current parliament runs until the next election expected in 2015.