HC Deb 24 November 1978 vol 958 c791W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom was spent on research and development (a) for defence purposes and (b) for civil purposes, in 1961–62, 1969–70 and 1977–78, respectively.

Mr. Joel Barnett

The year 1975–76 is the latest year for which the information requested is available. Figures for 1961–62, 1969–70 and 1975–76 are as follows:

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS A PROPORTION OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST*
Defence per cent. Civil per cent.
1961–62 1.1 1.7
1969–70 0.5 2.1
1975–76 0.6 1.6
* Excluding research in the social sciences and humanities.