§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what sums at present day prices have been saved by defence cuts implemented in the years 1974 and 1975 to date; and what further cuts are anticipated.
§ Mr. MasonI understand that the hon. Member is referring to cuts announced in the years 1974 and 1975. The defence review savings announced in December 1974, together with the additional reductions announced in the Chancellor's Budget Statement, amount to about £5,900 million, at 1975 survey prices, over the period. Additionally, the saving announced in April 1974 for 1974–75 amounted to about £68 million at 1975 survey prices. On the subject of further cuts, I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force said in the debate on 10th December 1975.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of state for Defence what percentage de- 436W fence expenditure currently bears to total Government expenditure; and what information he has as to the percentages in the United States of America, France, West Germany, Sweden and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Mr. MasonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 12th June.—[Vol. 893, c.222.]