§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of gross domestic product will be spent on the defence programme in 1988–89 compared with 1978–79 and 1985–86.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1986, c. 28]: The information requested is as follows:
per cent. 1978–79 4.3 1985–86 5.1 1988–89 4.4 The calculations are based on the following figures:
- (1) Defence expenditure as published in the 1986 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9702), except for 1985–86 which reflects estimated outturn. The Defence expenditure figure for 1978–79 is actual outturn and that for 1988–89 is planned provision.
- (2) The Central Statistical Office's latest estimates for money GDP at market prices for 1978–79 and 1985–86. The forecast figure for 1988–89 is taken from the 1986 financial statement and Budget report (HC 273).