§ 49. Sir J. POWERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount provided in the Defence Estimates for 1929–30 in respect of the present cost of the forces of the Crown and exclusive of all non-effective expenditure and also exclusive of expenditure on such services as hydrography, meteorology, and similar services of a character which, 558 though conducted by the Defence Departments, are also necessary for civil purposes; and, for comparison, the corresponding amount provided in the original Estimates for the years 1914–15 and 1924–25, respectively?
Mr. SAMUELThe figures for the financial years 1929, 1914 and 1924 respectively are £94,766,800; £73,014,500; and £102,502,764. These figures exclude the cost of the following services, besides those specifically mentioned in the question: The coastguard service; civil aviation; and airships. The cost of defence in the Middle East, where this is borne on Civil Votes, is however included.