§ 23. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the real percentage increase in public expenditure since May 1979 on (a) conventional weapons and (b) conventional weapons manufactured in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. HeseltineExcluding the nuclear strategic force, planned defence expenditure in 1984–85 allows for a real increase of around 37 per cent. in spending on equipment over such expenditure in 1978–79. In recent years national contracts placed with United Kingdom industry plus our share of collaborative projects have amounted to almost 95 per cent. of equipment expenditure with the remaining 5 per cent. spent on contracts placed overseas.