Defence Expenditure

HC Deb 21 July 1953 vol 518 cc188-9

24. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentages of the national income and the revenue taken by defence needs in the years 1938 and 1952, respectively.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Defence expenditure was about 7½ per cent. of the gross national product in 1938–39 and 12 per cent. in 1952–53. It was about 41 per cent. of total ordinary revenue in 1938–39 and 38 per cent. in 1952–53. These proportions are based on the definition of defence expenditure used internationally by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.