HC Deb 15 January 1974 vol 867 cc27-8W
Mr. Critchley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the annual defence budgets for the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 has been spent on capital expenditure, defined as moneys spent upon arms, equipment and infrastructure.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

The bulk of the defence budget is classified as current expenditure for national accounts purposes. The information on "capital" expenditure as requested is not readily available. In the Defence Estimates, percentages of expenditure, other than expenditure on personnel, for the years in question are:

1968–69 59
1969–70 57
1970–71 55
1971–72 49
1972–73 51
1973–74 53