§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the percentage of the British gross national product now being spent on total defence expenditure; and what is the equivalent percentage in other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European countries of which he has information from international or other sources.
§ Mr. HealeyProvisional figures in respect of 1968 for N.A.T.O. countries including the United Kingdom, based on a standard N.A.T.O. definition of defence expenditure, are as follows:
Defence expenditure as per cent. of Gross National Product at factor cost Belgium 3.4 Denmark 3.3 France 5.9 Federal Republic of Germany 4.5 Greece 5.7 Italy 3.5 Luxembourg 1.1 Netherlands 4.1 Norway 4.2 Portugal 8.0 Turkey 5.5 United Kingdom 6.4 Total N.A.T.O. Europe 5.0 Canada 3.4 United States 10.0 Total NA.T.O. North America 9.6 Total N.A.T.O. 8.0 The NA.T.O. definition gives for the United Kingdom a percentage higher than that for the Defence Budget because it includes, in addition, expenditure on military aid and allied services.
Figures for other European countries on the same authentic basis are not available. However, it is estimated that the U.S.S.R spends 10 per cent. of its G.N.P. at factor cost on defence, the Warwsaw Pact as a whole spends 8 per cent. and that the proportions in respect of other members of the Warsaw Pact vary between 3½ per cent. and 5½ per cent.