HC Deb 11 April 1989 vol 150 c512W
54. Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to bring the United Kingdom defence expenditure in line with the NATO average.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Both in money terms and as a percentage of GDP, United Kingdom defence expenditure is substantially above the NATO median. The United Kingdom defence budget is planned to rise over the period to 1991–92; taking into account the latest reported budgetary plans of other members of the Alliance, the United Kingdom is likely to remain among the highest-spending nations.