HC Deb 30 July 1965 vol 717 c177W
Sir C. Osborne

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that the present Government has increased arms expenditure by £121 million per annum, if he will now reduce that expenditure by more than his promised £100 million; since the nation is getting deeper into debt, if he will appoint an all-party Committee to investigate and recommend what further cuts may be possible; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Healey

Estimates for 1965–66 were greater by £46 million, or 2.3 per cent., in real terms than those for 1964–65 and I explained in the Statement on the Defence Estimates how much smaller this increase was than that planned by the previous Administration. To the remainder of the Question, the Answer is "No".