HC Deb 29 March 1985 vol 76 c385W
Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of gross domestic product is now spent on defence; and how this compares with 1979.

Mr. Butler

Expenditure on defence in the current year, based on the United Kingdom definition of the defence budget, is expected to amount to 5.2 per cent. of GDP. The corresponding figure for 1978–79 was 4.4 per cent.