§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 9 March 1998,Official Report, column 25, if Pakistan falls within her category of countries diverting limited resources into excessive military expenditure. [35241]
§ Clare ShortPakistan has traditionally spent a high proportion of its national budget on defence. We understand and welcome the fact that defence spending measured as a percentage of GDP has been declining steadily in recent years. The UK's bilateral development co-operation programme with Pakistan focuses particularly on working to improve basic social services which benefit the poor.
13W