HC Deb 18 March 1977 vol 928 cc313-4W
Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what increase or decreases in defence expenditure, in real terms, are planned by the United States of America, France and the Federal Republic of Germany in the coming financial year.

Mr. Mulley

The information requested is not yet available on a common NATO basis. From figures published recently I understand that a real increase of 5 per cent. is planned in United States expenditure between fiscal years 1977 and 1978. For France and Germany planned increases between 1976 and 1977 are about 17 per cent. and 1½ per cent. respectively at current prices; we do not know what allowance has been made for inflation in these two figures.

Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what increase or decreases in defence expenditure in real terms are planned by the United States of America, France and the Federal Republic of Germany in each financial year from 1978–79 to 1983–84.

Mr. Mulley

The French forward defence plan published last year forecast an increase in defence expenditure of about 15 per cent. a year at current prices from 1977 to 1982. We do not know what allowance has been made for inflation in these figures. Corresponding information for the United States and Germany is not available.

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the annual spending per annum on defence per head of the population aged over 18 years: and how this figure compares with Great Britain's NATO allies;

(2) what is the defence spending per person aged 18 years or over in the current year; and how this compares with the other NATO countries.

Mr. Mulley

United Kingdom defence spending per head of the population aged over 18 years, in US $, is estimated to have been $290 in 1976. Corresponding information for the other members of NATO is not readily available. The table below shows estimated per capita expenditure, in US $, by NATO members based on the population of working age, defined as those between 15 and 64 years, for 1975, the latest year for which these population figures are available.

NATO COUNTRIES

Per Capita Defence Spending for Population of Working Age (15–64) for 1975
US $
Belgium 307
Canada 208
Denmark 287
France 396
Federal Republic of Germany 386
Greece 235
Italy 133
Netherlands 329
Norway 364
Portugal 145
United Kingdom 323
United States 661

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