§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether spending on defence must rise more rapidly than the retail price index in order to maintain a constant level of provision; and, if so, by what proportion in 1979 and each subsequent financial year.
§ Mr. WigginThe inflation rate varies between different parts of the economy. In general over the past two decades defence prices have tended to rise more rapidly than retail prices, although in individual years they have risen less rapidly. Since 1979–80 the increases in the defence budget pay and price index and the retail prices index have been as follows:
Defence Budget Pay and Prices Retail Prices Per cent. Per cent. 1979–80 19.5 15.8 1980–81 17.8 16.3 1981–82 11.2 11.5