§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much, in terms of the current value of sterling, has been spent by his Department in each year 347W from 1972–73; what is the forecast expenditure for the next 10 years; and what proportion of gross domestic product the historic figures represent in each year.
§ Mr. BlakerThe information requested for past years is as follows:
Defence expenditure at fore-cast average 1982–83 prices* Defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP at market prices† Year £ million Year Per cent. 1972–73 13,315 1972 5.1 1973–74 13,134 1973 4.8 1974–75 12,607 1974 5.0 1975–76 13,188 1975 4.9 1976–77 12,945 1976 4.9 1977–78 12,645 1977 4.7 1978–79 12,555 1978 4.6 1979–80 12,934 1979 4.7 1980–81 13,373 1980 5.1 1981–82 13,565 1981 4.9 * Defence expenditure figures, which are shown by financial year, do not take account of any changes in the definition of the defence budget over the period. † Defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP is based on the standard NATO definition of defence expenditure and is shown, in accordance with usual NATO practice, by calendar year. Expenditure in 1982–83 is still subject to uncertainty. for 1983–84, the cash provision announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on 8 November, adjusted for the national insurance surcharge reductions announced in that statement, is £15,861 million. * Detailed expenditure plans for defence up to 1985–86 will be announced in the forthcoming Public Expenditure White Paper. It is not our practice to publish details of our internal projections of defence expenditure beyond the public expenditure planning period.
* This figure is cash and hence not comparable with the figures in the table above, which are at average 1982–83 prices.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the defence budget in each year since 1972–73 has been spent on the nuclear deterrent; and what percentage is forecast for each of the next 10 years.
§ Mr. BlakerThe estimated percentage of the defence budget absorbed by the nuclear strategic force in each year since 1972–73 is as follows:
Year 1972–73 1.3 1973–74 1.2 1974–75 1.3 1975–76 1.3 1976–77 1.4 1977–78 1.5 1978–79 1.3 1979–80 1.5 1980–81 1.5 1981–82 2.2 1982–83 2.3 It is not the practice to publish detailed estimates of our future plans in the form requested but I can say that expenditure on the nuclear strategic force, both Polaris and Trident, is expected to approach 7 per cent. of the defence budget at the peak of the Trident programme before declining again.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the expenditure on, and level of staffing of (a) the defence sales organisation, (b) the public 348W relations departments of his Department and (c) the armed forces recruiting agencies in each year since 1972–73; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.
§ Mr. PattieThe information is as follows, insofar as it is available in the form requested:
1. Defence Sales Organisation Year Expenditure £ million Level of staffing 1972–73 0.77 354 1973–74 0.85 342 1974–75 0.92 357 1975–76 1.22 369 1976–77 1.82 356 1977–78 1.94 374 1978–79 1.91 353 1979–80 2.41 337 1980–81 2.69 332 1981–82 3.68 345 1982–83 *4.05 332 * Estimated
2. Public Relations Department Year Expenditure £ million Level of staffing 1982–83 4.03 222 Figures for past years are not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.
3. Recruiting Agencies Year 1972–73 15.2 N/A 1973–74 16.9 N/A 1974–75 19.92 N/A 1975–76 24.23 N/A 1976–77 26.33 N/A 1977–78 26.16 3,715 1978–79 24.95 3,088 1979–80 36.28 3,064 1980–81 41.25 3,104 1981–82 41.03 3,107 1982–83 *41.11 2,901 * Estimated It is not the practice to publish detailed estimates of our future plans in the form requested.