§ Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state in terms of the present value of money the total sum spent in the most recent available twelve months period, and in corresponding periods ending in 1955 and in 1948, on clothing for the Army, the percentage spent on clothing wholly of British manufacture and the percentage spent 170W on items predominantly manufactured from cotton textiles.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe total sum spent on clothing for the Army in the financial year 1961–62 was £5.9 million. Comparable figures for 1947–48 and 1954–55, in terms of the present value of money, are £11.6 million and £31.6 million respectively. 97 per cent. of the total expenditure in 1961–62 was spent on clothing of wholly British manufacture, and 40 per cent. of total expenditure went on items predominantly manufactured from cotton textiles in both 1961–62 and 1954–55. Comparable percentages for the earlier years are not now available, but the indications are that they were similar.