§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how future planned defence spending in total will compare with the plans existing in April 1979 after the economies he announced on 20 January.
§ Mr. NottWhilst I believe that the outturn of defence expenditure in the year 1978–79 is important, I do not believe that the plans of the previous Government are relevant to future defence expenditure. But the figures are as follows:422W
£million at 1980 Survey Prices 1981–82 1982–83 Cmnd. 7439* 9,922 9,930 Present plans 9,753 10,051 * These plans were described as provisional.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the future spending on defence, on an annual basis, will be reduced as a result of the economies he announced on 20 January compared with the spending if no such economies had been made.
§ Mr. NottMy statement was concerned with 1981–82, when the defence budget is planned to be £9,753 million at 1980 survey prices. The corresponding figures for 1982–83 and 1983–84 are £10,051 million and £10,353 million respectively.