§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was defence expenditure in each of the past 20 years expressed at constant prices; and what is the estimated expenditure to 1984–85.
§ Mr. PymThe information requested is set out below. All figures are at 1979 survey prices. However, for the years 1960–61 to 1963–64 actual expenditure figures are not available at constant prices, and estimates figures have been given. The figures for the years 1980–81 to 1983–84 were published in Cmnd. 7826-I in April 1980. No planned expenditure figures are yet available for 1984–85.
DEFENCE EXPENDITURE AT 1979 SURVEY PRICES £ million Estimates* Actual expenditure* Plans 1960–61 8,593 — — 1961–62 8,523 — — 1962–63 8,685 — — 1963–64 8,895 — — 1964–65 — 8,775 — 1965–66 — 8,901 — 1966–67 — 8,954 — 1967–68 — 8,926 — 1968–69 — 8,485 — 1969–70 — 7.995 — 1970–71 — 7,962 — 1971–72 — 8,016 — 1972–73 — 7,942 — 1973–74 — 7,832 — 1974–75 — 7,518 — 1975–76 — 7,864 — 1976–77 — 7,719 — 1977–78 — 7,540 — 1978–79 — 7,486 — 1979–80 — 7,709† — 1980–81 — — 8,001 1981–82 — — 8,243 1982–83 — — 8,490 1983–84 — — 8,745 * Because of changes in the defence budget definition, the revalued figures in prior years are only an approximate indication of comparative expenditure. † Provisional figure, consistent with Cmnd. 7841.