§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total amount of annual defence expenditure on 6th March 1974 or the nearest convenient date thereto, and 6th March 1977 or the nearest convenient date thereto;
(2) what was the total amount of annual defence expenditure on 6th March 1974 or the nearest convenient date thereto, and on 6th March 1977 or the nearest convenient date thereto, applying an appropriate formula to show a true comparison of the level of defence expenditure after taking account of the reduction in the value of money between the two dates.
§ Dr. GilbertActual defence budget expenditure in the financial year beginning 1st April 1974 was £4,164 million. Defence budget Estimates for the financial year beginning 1st April 1977 total £6,329 million. These two figures, converted to the same constant price base, are shown in Cmnd. 6721-II as £5,305 million and £5,447 million respectively, at 1976 Survey prices.