§ 22. Mr. Ginsburgasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish comparative figures of defence expenditure per head for the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, excluding Turkey and the United States of America, for 1955 and 1958.
§ Mr. HeathThe figures in the form for which the hon. Gentleman has asked are not available. Figures expressing comparative defence expenditures as a percentage of the gross national product have, however, been published in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation newsletter issued in August, 1960. With permission, I will circulate these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. GinsburgI look forward to these figures with interest. Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figures which have been published on this subject by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, in July, 1960, show that in 1958 expenditure per head on defence was over twice as high in this country as in Germany? Are Her Majesty's Government satisfied that Germany is bearing her fair share of the financial burden of Western defence?
§ Mr. HeathI will certainly study the figures that the hon. Member has mentioned and, if possible, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT later.
§ Following is the information:
§ Extract from N.A.T.O. newsletter, August, 1960:
| PROPORTION OF NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST DEVOTED TO DEFENCE (CURRENT PRICES) | |||
| Country | 1955 | 1958 | 1959 |
| Belgium | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Canada | 7.6 | 6.1 | 6.1 |
| Denmark | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| France | 7.7 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| Germany | 4.8 | 3.5 | 5.3 |
| Greece | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.0 |
| Italy | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| Luxembourg | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Netherlands | 6.2 | 4.9 | 4.3 |
| Norway | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Portugal | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| United Kingdom | 9.3 | 7.9 | 7.7 |