HC Deb 06 February 1990 vol 166 cc594-5W
27. Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.

34. Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.

45. Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.

102. Mr. Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

In the 1980s major improvements have been achieved in procurement practices, in the cost-effective use of manpower and in reducing other operating costs through measures to increase efficiency. Savings from these and further such measures will continue to increase the value we get from the defence budget. I refer the hon. Members to the essay on the new management strategy on pages 43–44 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, vol. 1 (Cm. 675–1).

50. Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence spending of the recently announced United States defence budget.

71. Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence spending of the recently announced United States defence budget.

75. Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence spending of the recently announced United States defence budget.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The plans for United Kingdom defence expenditure in the years to 1992–93 reflect our assessment of the sums necessary to maintain our security and sustain our responsibilities within the NATO Alliance. The United States defence budget proposals now before Congress do not alter that assessment.