Research and Development (Hansard, 25 April 1983)

§ Mr. George
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure on research and development at 1978 survey prices for each year since 1974 on (a) military aircraft, (b) guided weapons, (c) other electronics, (d) ship

Table A

£ million

1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83

(a) Military aircraft 313 298 336 356 332 368 344 300 322

(b) Guided weapons 117 120 96 110 105 104 124 134 127

(c) Other electronics 146 144 126 119 126 137 156 156 154

(d) Ship construction and underwater warfare 84 87 95 88 81 125 141 180 155

(e) Ordnance and other Army equipment 76 71 76 69 67 77 81 90 89

Table B

£ million

1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83

(a) Military aircraft 4.4 4.0 4.6 5.0 4.8 5.1 4.7 4.1 4.2

(b) Guided weapons 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.8 1.7

(c) Other electronics 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.0

(d) Ship construction and underwater warfare 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.7 1.9 2.4 2.0

(e) Ordnance and other Army equipment 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2

§ Mr. George
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Government-sponsored research and development is related to defence.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
Provisional figures for 1980–81 show that Ministry of Defence expenditure on research and development constituted 54 per cent. of net Government sponsored R & D. Early estimates show a figure of 52 per cent. for both 1981–82 and 1982–83. This percentage does not reflect apriori decisions on the proportion of total available resources to be spent on defence, but arises from separate decisions on expenditure priorities by individual Departments. In the case of the Ministry of Defence, the bulk of expenditure on R & D is devoted to the development of military hardware.

Table A
£ million
		1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
(a)	Military aircraft	313	298	336	356	332	368	344	300	322
(b)	Guided weapons	117	120	96	110	105	104	124	134	127
(c)	Other electronics	146	144	126	119	126	137	156	156	154
(d)	Ship construction and underwater warfare	84	87	95	88	81	125	141	180	155
(e)	Ordnance and other Army equipment	76	71	76	69	67	77	81	90	89

Table B
	£ million
		1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
(a)	Military aircraft	4.4	4.0	4.6	5.0	4.8	5.1	4.7	4.1	4.2
(b)	Guided weapons	1.6	1.6	1.3	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.7	1.8	1.7
(c)	Other electronics	2.0	2.0	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.9	2.1	2.1	2.0
(d)	Ship construction and underwater warfare	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.7	1.9	2.4	2.0
(e)	Ordnance and other Army equipment	1.1	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.2