DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

HC Deb 28 June 1949 vol 466 cc85-6W

Mr. Usborne

asked the Minister of Defence the cost per head of the population of expenditure on the Defence Services and of armaments in the following years 1909, 1914, 1918, 1921, 1930, 1937, 1939, 1945 and 1947.

Mr. Alexander

The following table gives the approximate Defence expenditure per head of the population for the years in question.

Year				Cost
				£	s.	d.
1909–10	…	…	…	1	10	0
1914–15	…	…	…	7	15	0
1918–19	…	…	…	23	15	0
1921–22	…	…	…	3	15	0
1930–31	…	…	…	2	5	0
1937–38	…	…	…	5	15	0*
1939–40	…	…	…	17	5	0*
1945–46	…	…	…	80	5	0
1947–48	…	…	…	16	15	0
* These figures take account of sums provided by issues from the Consolidated Fund in accordance with the terms of the Defence Loans Acts, 1937 and 1939.