§ Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Defence what is the total proportion of defence expenditure which is spent on the provision of the British nuclear deterrent, taking into account, in addition to means of delivery and pay of personnel, the expenditure on strategic, tactical and defensive nuclear weapons, on the defence of the deterrent power, and on research and production for nuclear weapons and their means of delivery carried out by the Atomic Energy Authority and the Ministry of Aviation.
§ Mr. WatkinsonIt would not be in the public interest to disclose detailed information about research development or production of nuclear weapons. The cost of the strategic deterrent is about 10 per cent. of the defence budget.