HC Deb 11 July 1934 vol 292 c319
29. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net expenditure on the Defence Services, excluding all pensions, during the financial year ended 31st March, 1934, and, for comparison, the corresponding figures for the years ended 31st March, 1933, and 31st March, 1913?

Mr. COOPER

The Appropriation Accounts for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1934, are not yet available. The net expenditure provided for in the Navy, Army and Air Estimates, 1933, excluding all pensions, i.e., all non-effective services, was £91,191,500. The corresponding actual net expenditure for the years ending 3Ist March, 1933, and 31st March, 1913, was £85,969,232 and £66,179,802 respectively. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the number of pounds sterling does not afford a completely reliable measure of comparison between 1913 and 1933.

Mr. THORNE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that during the time he has been answering this question we have spent £213 on armaments?