§ 40. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Defence what further action is proposed to reduce the proportion of the nation's resources devoted to defence, so that the burden will be brought 624W into line with that carried by the United Kingdom's main allies.
§ Mr. MulleyI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 27th June.—[Official Report, Vol. 952, c. 454.]
§ 41. Mr. Whitneyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the gross national product was devoted to defence expenditure in 1973–74 and what percentage is proposed in 1978–79.
§ Mr. MulleyThe defence budget estimates for 1973–74 represented just over 5 per cent. of gross domestic product at market prices. The 1978–79 defence budget estimates represent about 4¾ per cent. of our forecast gross domestic product at market prices.