HC Deb 18 May 1953 vol 515 cc107-8W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to what extent the recent official announcement of the United States Gov-

Year Defence Expenditure Total American Aid
Mutual Defence Assistance (See Note 1) Mutual Security Aid (See Note 2)
£m. £m.
1950–51 (Audited Expenditure) … … 796 2 —
1951–52 (Audited Expenditure) … … 1,123 5 —
1952–53 (Estimates including Supplementaries) 1,513 18 85
1953–54 (Estimates) … … 1,637 17 140
Notes
1. The figures in this column are actual receipts by the Ministry of Supply, surrendered as Exchequer Extra Receipts.
2. This column shows the sterling counterpart appropriated in aid of Defence Votes (see Statement on Defence, 1953, Command 8768, paragraphs 10 and 11).
3. The table above excludes "end-item assistance" (that is to say, the provision of defence stores and equipment in kind)

This form of assistance affords no direct relief to the United Kingdom Defence Budget, though it does constitute a valuable addition to the United Kingdom's own defence effort.

ernment that the sum to be paid to the United Kingdom will be considerably reduced, will affect the policy and financial consequences indicated in paragraphs 124 and 125, of Command Paper No. 8800, presented to Parliament last March.

Mr. Maudling

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his speech in the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill on 7th May.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will provide in the form of a table a list of United States aid towards the cost of defence of the United Kingdom, indicating what form this aid took at various dates and to what extent the reduced sum, now made public in the United States as the contribution to be made in the present financial year, will affect orders already placed for aircraft and other warlike stores in this country.

Mr. Maudling

The sterling equivalent of the net amounts of United States' dollar aid related to the defence expenditures of the United Kingdom is shown in the following table. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill on 7th May.