HC Deb 12 April 1984 vol 58 c333W
Mr. Gould

asked the Prime Minister what effect the increase in import in manufactures since 1954 has had on defence capability regarding a full-scale conventional war.

The Prime Minister

For a number of years less than 10 per cent. of annual defence equipment expenditure has been on imports. Although the share of imports of the United Kingdom Market for manufactured goods in general has increased since 1954 there is no reason to believe that this or other structural changes in the economy since then have seriously reduced the United Kingdom's capability to fight a convential war.

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