§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs are dependent on defence exports(a) as reported in this year's statement on the defence estimates and (b) according to the United Kingdom defence statistics in 1993; how the two sets of figures are calculated; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenThe "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1993" gives a figure of in excess of 100,000 jobs directly or indirectly dependent on defence exports. The 1993 edition of "UK Defence Statistics" gives in table 2.24 for the 1991–92 financial year figures of 75,000 for direct employment, and 70,000 for indirect employment dependent on defence exports. There is only one set of figures, which are those given in "UK Defence Statistics". These are calculated by comparing estimates of the value of defence exports based on data provided by HM Customs and Excise and the Society of British Aerospace Companies, with estimates of sales per employee for the main industries concerned based on data provided by the Central Statistical Office. More details of the methods used to obtain these employment estimates are given in an article in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988", volume 2.