Defence Expenditure

HC Deb 28 July 1989 vol 157 c1036W

Mr. Cran

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much spending on defence has increased in real terms over the past 10 years.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Defence expenditure in 1988–89 was some 16 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1978–79, excluding the effect of general inflation measured by the GDP deflator.