§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of total public expenditure has been allocated to defence in (a) each of the years 1964–65 to 1983–84, (b) the current year and (c) the years for which future estimates are available.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information requested is as follows:
Percentage 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 10.5 1982–83 10.9 The figures in the table show annual defence expenditure expressed as a percentage of general Government expenditure. For the period 1983–84 to 1986–87 planned defence expenditure expressed as a percentage of the public expenditure planning totals published in the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd. 9143) is in the range of 13–14 per cent. a year. These figures are not directly comparable with those for the earlier years as the public expenditure planning total excludes debt interest, non-trading capital consumption and stock appreciation.