HC Deb 27 February 1978 vol 945 cc94-5W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the defence budget for 1979–80 is now intended to be less than the sum proposed after the 1975 defence review at current prices; why this reduction has been made in the light of NATO's request that member nations increase their defence spending for that year by 3 per cent. in real terms; and whether the statement in the White Paper that spending for 1979–80 would meet the NATO target was made on the basis of these calculations.

Mr. Mulley

On the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the information which I gave the hon. Member in my reply of 17th February 1978. NATO's request was for member nations to aim for annual real increases in defence expenditure in the region of 3 per cent. from 1979. The Government will be meeting this request in 1979–80 when the defence budget will be 3 per cent. higher than in 1978–79.—[Vol. 944, c.430–2.]