§ Sir Ian Orr-Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual expenditure on defence in the years 1967–68 and 1968–69 falling outside the defence Votes; and what percentage of the gross national product these sums represent.
§ Mr. Healey£77 million in 1967–68 and £75 million in 1968–69. These sums represent in both years 0.2 per cent. of the gross national product at factor cost, at its latest calculation. These figures exclude the items of expenditure referred to in (a)and (e) of my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) on 17th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 38–40.]
§ Sir Ian Orr-Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the actual expenditure in pounds sterling in 1967–68 and 1968–69 as compared with estimates submitted in the respective Defence White Papers; and what percentage were these sums of the gross national product.
§ Mr. HealeyActual expenditure on the defence budget in 1967–68 and 1968–69 was £2,236 million and £2,252 million, although the latter figure is provisional. The original estimates to which these figures correspond were £2,205 million and £2,271 million respectively. Figures of original estimate and actual out-turn are not, however, strictly comparable because the former excludes pay and price rises which form a part of actual expenditure. Actual expenditure represented 6.3 per cent. in 1967–68 and 6.1 per cent. in 1968–69 of the gross national product at factor cost, at its latest calculation.