THE EARL OF DUDLEYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the total sum expended by the Ministry of Defence in the year to March 31, 1970, on the purchase of defence equipment for sale abroad out of sums granted under the Appropriation Acts, and what total sum was received by the Ministry of Defence in the same year in respect of the sale abroad of defence equipment.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)Expenditure against Navy, Army and Air Force equipment Votes does not, at the time of purchase, distinguish between items which are on completion delivered to the British forces and those which in the event are sold abroad. A sum of £42.3 million was, however, transferred from the Defence (Central) Vote to Service Votes to meet the assessed cost of Defence equipment actually exported in the year ended March 31, 1970 against orders obtained by the Defence Sales Organisation. During the year the Ministry of Defence received in respect of all sales, including items from British Service stocks, a total of £57.4 million, made up of £48.2 million to the Central Vote and £9.2 million to Service Votes. For several reasons, notably the phasing of payment in relation to delivery, the figures of £42.3 million and £48.2 million are not directly comparable.