HC Deb 22 February 1977 vol 926 cc539-40W
19. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement on the implementation of defence cuts.

Mr. Mulley

I have nothing to add to what I told the House on 12th January.

22. Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current defence level.

Mr. Mulley

I must ask the hon. Member to await the Defence White Paper, which I hope to publish on Monday 28th February.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of gross domestic product was devoted to arms in 1975 and 1976 by the United Kingdom; and what is the correspond- ing average for European NATO countries.

Mr. Mulley

In 1975 the United Kingdom devoted 5 per cent. of its gross domestic product—as market prices—to defence, on the NATO definition of defence spending, compared with averages of 3.8 per cent. for the European members of NATO and 4.8 per cent. for NATO as a whole. Corresponding provisional figures for 1976 are 5.1 per cent. for the United Kingdom, 3.6 per cent. for the European members of NATO and 4.7 per cent. for NATO as a whole.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of Great Britain's arms spending in real terms, after correcting costs for expected inflation, for 1975–76 and 1979–80 at 1975–76 prices.

Mr. Mulley

I must ask my hon. Friend to await publication of Volume II of Cmnd. 6721.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total British arms spending in the years 1974–75 and 1975–76; what is the latest estimate for 1976–77, including Supplementary Estimates in cash terms; and what percentage of the gross national product these figures represent.

Mr. Mulley

The defence budget outturn was £4,164 million in 1974–75 and £5,346 million in 1975–76. These amounts were, respectively, about 5¼ per cent. and about 5½ per cent. of gross national product at factor cost. The total of main and Supplementary Estimates published to date for the defence budget in 1976–77 is £6,232 million and is expected to be about 5½ per cent. of GNP at factor cost.

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