§ 12. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much in the £ of revenue raised by Government taxation goes on military expenditure; if he will reduce the present expenditure of £2,120 million by £200 million in the coming year, by £400 million in the subsequent year, and by £600 million in the third year; and if he will make a statement on plans made by Her Majesty's Government for reduction of arms expenditure.
§ Mr. HealeyDefence expenditure represents about 5s. in the £ of revenue raised by Government taxation. We are at present carrying out a full review of defence expenditure in relation to commitments. I cannot yet add to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer on this subject on 15th July.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes the Minister agree that the master key to nearly all our problems—including balance of payments, re-equipment, prices, housing and pensions—is the drastic cut proposed in the Question and also proposed in the Motion signed by 68 of my hon. Friends last month?
§ Mr. HealeyI think my hon. Friend must agree that the key to all our problems is survival on this planet, and in so far as defence expenditure is justified by its contribution towards maintaining the peace, I do not think that he or anyone else would wish to reduce it or slash it in the way proposed in the Question.
§ Mr. SoamesWould the Minister direct his attention to the specific figures quoted in the Question? Does it not seem to him that, with a cut of anything approaching the order proposed, it would be totally impossible even to maintain the commitments which it is in our national interest that we should protect?
§ Mr. HealeyOn this Question, as on the other questions I have answered of this hypothetical nature, I shall not anticipate the results of the defence review.