§ Mr. Churchillasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of overall Government expenditure, central and local, devoted to defence in the current year and for each of the past 20 years.
§ Mr. BrittanThe information requested is as follows.
Percentage 1961–62 16.9 1962–63 16.9 1963–64 16.0 1964–65 15.5 1965–66 15.1 1966–67 14.2 1967–68 12.8 1968–69 12.3 1969–70 11.5 1970–71 11.6 1971–72 11.7 1972–73 11.2 1973–74 10.9 1974–75 9.7 1975–76 9.9 1976–77 10.4 1977–78 10.7 1978–79 10.0 1979–80 10.3 1980–81 10.3 1981–82 10.3 The figures show annual defence expenditure expressed as a percentage of general Government expenditure. The figure for 1981–82 is based on current defence provision.
265W