HC Deb 03 July 1973 vol 859 cc233-4
8. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the percentage increase in Service pay in Her Majesty's Government's estimates; and how it compares with the percentage increase in other defence expenditure 1971 to 1974.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Expenditure on the pay and allowances of United Kingdom regular Service men provided for in defence estimates 1973–74, plus the recently announced pay award, is about 53 per cent. higher than the figure in defence estimates in 1970–71 after some allowance is made for the introduction of the military salary in that year. During the same period, other defence expenditure is estimated to increase by 49 per cent.

Mr. Jenkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman look again at the figures? If one makes a comparison between 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 one finds that the figures he has given are reversed and that a vast degree of expenditure in that time has been on weapons rather than pay. If this should prove to be the case, will the right hon. Gentleman cease sheltering behind increases in pay when the totality of the Government's defence expenditure is questioned?

Mr. Gilmour

The exact proportions vary from year to year. according to what pay increases there are and also to the percentage of the large weapons expenditure. The proportions cannot be exact year after year. The figures I have given are correct for the years requested by the hon. Gentleman. If one takes a slightly different base line, one will get a slightly different answer.

Mr. William Hamilton

What compensatory payments are being made to our troops in Germany following revaluation of the mark?

Mr. Gilmour

There is a Question about that later on the Order Paper.