HC Deb 13 March 1978 vol 946 cc84-5W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now the cumulative total of defence expenditure cuts since the present Government came to office, compared with 1974 planned expenditure, expressed in terms of 1978 survey prices.

Mr. Mulley

All the information requested is not yet available at 1978 survey prices. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 20th February 1978 which gives figures at 1977 Survey Prices.—[Vol. 944, c. 429–32.]

Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what programmes he proposes to reduce, postpone or abandon in order to achieve the £55 million additional reduction in planned defence expenditure for the year 1979–80, announced in the 1978 expenditure White Paper, Command Paper No. 7049, compared to expenditure forecast in the 1977 expenditure White Paper, Command Paper No. 6721.

Mr. Mulley

Subject to review when Estimates for 1979–80 are prepared, I do not expect any reductions, postponements or cancellations in the defence programme for that year.