Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of Soviet military expenditure and of the percentage of gross national product being spent on military purposes by the USSR.
§ Mr. MasonPreliminary results of our latest studies indicate that Soviet defence expenditure, which has been growing at an average rate of about 4 per cent. a year, in real terms, amounted in 1975 to over 50,000 million roubles. We now estimate that the share of Soviet GNP allocated to defence has averaged 11–12 per cent. over the last 10 years. In view of Soviet policy to restrict information on such matters these estimates have necessitated a long study and are the result of extensive research into all aspects of Soviet military costs and analysis of Soviet budgetary practice.