§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much United Kingdom spending on defence as a proportion of the gross domestic product exceeds the average combined spending for other members of the EEC; and what is this proportion expressed in cash terms.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonOn the latest available estimates of GDP and defence spending for European Community countries in the calendar year 1987, United Kingdom defence expenditure exceeds the average for other member states by 1.6 per cent. When related to United Kingdom GDP this represents a figure approaching £7 billion.