HC Deb 02 December 1980 vol 995 cc77-8W
23. Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government's future expenditure planned in respect of defence remains as outlined in Cmnd. 7841.

Mr. Pym

No, I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November.

26. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any changes have been made in the planned allocation of defence expenditure as the result of the decision to replace the Polaris system with Trident; or if the costs are additional to increases proposed prior to his statement on the replacement of the United Kingdom's independent nuclear deterrent.

Mr. Pym

Expenditure on Trident will be contained within the published defence budget totals. Changes are continually occurring in the planned allocation of defence expenditure for a variety of reasons. It is not possible to identify any resulting specifically from the decision to purchase Trident.

27. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of defence expenditure per head of the United Kingdom population; and how the Government intend this to change over the next three years.

Mr. Pym

About £200 this year at current prices. On the same price basis this is expected to rise to about £220 by 1983–84.

34. Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the real percentage growth in defence spending during the current financial year.

Mr. Pym

About 2½ per cent.

36. Mr. Jim Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage increase in defence expenditure he expects in the next financial year.

Mr. Pym

About 2½ per cent, in real terms.