§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the information she has on the percentage of gross domestic product spent on defence in (a) Russia and (b) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries, together with figures showing (i) gross domestic product and (ii) gross domestic product per head in dollar terms.
§ The Prime MinisterThe table sets out the information requested for NATO countries for 1987, the latest year for which complete figures are available. Provisional figures for 1988 defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP in each NATO country were included in the 1989 Statement on the Defence Estimates, Cm. 675-I, page 39. The Soviet Union has recently stated that its defence expenditure for 1989 will be 77.3 billion roubles. We do not know how this figure has been compiled and assess that, when compiled according to the definitions common to NATO countries, outlays should be roughly twice this level. As such, they would constitute an estimated 15 to 17 per cent. of Soviet GDP. No accurate estimates can be given of Soviet GDP or GDP per capita in dollar terms; conversion of rouble data into dollars using commercial exchange rates is likely to prove highly misleading.
Defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP GDP million US$1 GDP per capita US $1 Belgium 3.0 138,526 14,030 Canada 2.1 414,244 16,050 Denmark 2.1 101,315 19,750 France 4.0 879,879 15,710 Federal Republic of Germany 3.1 1,118,839 18,270 Greece 6.2 47,179 4,720 Iceland — 5,326 21,740 Italy 2.4 751,261 13,090 Luxembourg 1.2 6,061 16,290 Netherlands 3.1 214,641 14,630 Norway 3.4 82,661 19,770 Portugal 3.1 36,312 3,530 Spain 2.4 288,098 7,420 Turkey 4.4 65,044 1,250 United Kingdom 4.7 665,732 11,730 United States 6.5 4,436,018 18,190 1 Based on 1987 average market exchange rates.