§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the 3.5 per cent. contingency allowance has been spent, per year, since the publication of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" Cmnd. 8288.
§ Mr. StanleyA 3.5 per cent contingency spread over 10 years was assumed in the programme embodied in Cmnd 8288 to allow flexibility to cope with unquantified costs at the time. It has subsequently varied in size from year to year.
If the hon. Member is wishing to know the percentage difference between outturn expenditure and planned expenditure in each year since 1982–83, the information is as follows:
589W
Per cent. 1982–83 -0.1 1983–84 -1.5 1984–85 -0.7 1985–86 -1.4 11986–87 -2.6 1Estimate.