§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to the answer given on 15 February, Official Report, column 14, in reply to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Thomas), if he will list on a comparable basis the gross national product per head of population in (a) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, (b) the United States of America and (c) the United Kingdom and the amounts spent per head on defence in each State.
§ Mr. WigginOur most recent estimates of the Soviet Union's gross national product and defence expenditure, for which reliable figures are not published, are for 1980.
379WThese are set out on the basis requested, together with similar figures for the United States of America and the United Kingdom:
GNP/GDP per head Defence Expenditure per head USSR 2,300 roubles (GNP) 300–320 roubles USA $11,348 (GDP) $362 UK £4,017 (GDP) £205 The figures are expressed in national currencies since official exchange rates do not adequately reflect the purchasing power of the rouble.