HC Deb 15 June 1976 vol 913 cc95-6W
34. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Great Britain spends as a proportion of gross national product on defence research and development compared with other Western European nations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. William Rodgers

In 1975 the United Kingdom spent 0.7 per cent. of the gross national product on defence research and development, reflecting the high proportion of our defence equipment produced by British industry. France spent roughly the same proportion, and other Western European countries for which figures are available spent less.