HC Deb 14 February 1984 vol 54 cc114-6
6. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to present the Defence Estimates 1984.

Mr. Pattie

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will present his "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984" in the spring. The exact date has yet to be decided. The presentation of Supply Estimates for 1984–85 is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr. Kirkwood

I thank the Minister for that helpful and informative answer. There is speculation in the press, of which he will no doubt be aware, that the Defence Estimates will confirm that the cost of the Trident programme has increased to about £10,000 million. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is worry and speculation that Thursday's public expenditure White Paper will show that the defence budget after 1985–86 will be only 1 per cent. of GDP, not 3 per cent.? In the event of these two things happening, will he give the House an assurance that the conventional arms programme will not be prejudiced by the expensive Trident programme on which the Government have embarked?

Mr. Pattie

I am aware of the speculation to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I suggest that he might care to wait to see whether the speculation has any foundation.

Mr. Wilkinson

In the time between now and the spring, whenever it comes, will my hon. Friend make absolutely sure that in this year's White Paper there is proper reference to the importance of our role in the defence of Belize? In last year's White Paper there was nothing in the index and nothing in the text about Belize and mention of the place could be found only on the map in the middle of the paper.

Mr. Pattie

I am sure that we shall pay careful attention to my hon. Friend's question and ensure that the matter is given due preference in this year's Defence Estimates.

Mr. Michie

Will the Secretary of State, before he presents the defence budget, reconsider the plans to close the royal ordnance factory at Sheffield?

Mr. Pattie

That matter is not conditional upon the publication of Defence Estimates. As the hon. Gentleman has raised this matter on the Floor of the House, I shall look at it again.

Mr. Robert Atkins

Will my hon. Friend take this opportunity to deny reports in the papers that the defence budget will be increased next year by only 1 per cent., as it is clearly important that we should continue the policy of increasing the budget in real terms by 3 per cent. year after year?

Mr. Pattie

My hon. Friend must wait for the public expenditure Supply Estimates, which will be published soon.

Mr. Denzil Davies

Although we would not, of course, wish to draw the Minister of State on the Defence Estimates, what is the present estimate of the cost of Trident? Is it still £7½ billion? Is it not a fact that, whatever the estimates, there must be a further major defence review in the next few years to pay for that extravagant and useless totem pole?

Mr. Pattie

I confirm that at 1982–83 prices the figure is still £7½ billion.