HC Deb 14 January 1986 vol 89 c561W
20. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present level of planned defence spending as a percentage of all public expenditure; and what was the comparable figure for 1979.

Mr. Stanley

Based on the figure for general Government expenditure in the 1985 autumn statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 November, planned defence expenditure is expected to be 11.5 per cent. of general Government expenditure in 1985–86, compared to 10 per cent. in 1978–79.