§ 2. Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will now compare the sum total precentage of the defence budget devoted to pay, allowances and pensions for regular servicemen, reservists and civilians, together, in the financial years 1961–62 and 1966–67 with that percentage projected for 1971–72.
§ Mr. LambtonI have nothing to add to the information which I gave to my hon. Friend in the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 25th March.— [Vol. 814, c. 993–1000.]
§ Mr. WilkinsonWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that answer, may I say that I seem to recall that the sum in question was 54 per cent. Does this not mean that we shall have to examine more thoroughly the value for money that can be derived from a citizen force or reservist concept and move towards a system of having a fixed target in terms of percentage of G.N.P. for defence spending over the years ahead?
§ Mr. LambtonI have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend taking half an hour the other day.