Defence Budget (Hansard, 13 February 1979)

§ 11. Mr. Nelson
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to increase the proportion of the defence budget allocated to the Royal Air Force.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. James Wellbeloved)
The share of the defence budget allocated to each Service reflects the requirements of the Government's defence policy. This will continue to be the principle on which future allocations are made.

§ Mr. Nelson
Is it not a fact that the allocation of the defence budget between the Services has hardly changed on a year-by-year basis over the last 20 years, and certainly not over the last four years? Are there good objective reasons for this, or is it a convenient way of trying to avoid inter-Service bidding for the defence budget? In view of the substantial programme for re-equipping the Air Force 947 over the next decade, is there not a good case for increasing the proportion of the defence budget which is attributable to the Air Force?

§ Mr. Wellbeloved
There has been some fluctuation in the division of expenditure from the defence budget between the three Services in the period to which the hon. Member referred. I can foresee that with the substantial improvements being made in the RAF's capability there could be an argument for a greater allocation to be made to the RAF. But I am sure that my hon. Friends the Under-Secretaries of State for the other two Services and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would have to make some careful balanced judgments on the priorities between the three Services.

§ Mr. George Rodgers
Is it true that an additional 4,000 recruits have been accepted into the RAF in excess of the number forecast in the defence review? If money has been made available for this vast additional number, why is it necessary to consider making additional funds available?

§ Mr. Wellbeloved
It is true that there has been an increase in the manpower strength of the RAF. This has necessitated an increase in the defence Vote for the RAF. We are examining carefully future manpower requirements with the aim of containing the situation within the Government's defence policy.