HC Deb 24 June 1964 vol 697 c84W
Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, taking October 1951 as equalling 100, he will give the percentage annual rise or fall in defence costs to the latest convenient stated date.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Taking the fiscal year 1951–52 as being 100, the annual outturn of defence expenditure has been:

Year At current prices At constant prices
1951–52 100 100
1952–53 124 114
1953–54 121 108
1954–55 129 112
1955–56 125 105
1956–57 135 103
1957–58 128 92
1958–59 129 88
1959–60 132 87
1960–61 143 91
1961–62 150 93
1962–63 156 95
1963–64 161 95
(approximate)