§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the percentage reduction in real terms from current defence expenditure if all of the proposals outlined in "Options for Change" are implemented.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated in his statement to the House in July, the "Options" proposals will bring savings and a reduction in the share of GDP taken by defence. The plans for the defence budget which were announced in the autumn statement envisage that on current inflation assumptions provision for 1993–94 will be 6 per cent. lower in real terms than the estimated outturn for 1990–91.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the target date for the achievement of the force reductions outlined in "Options for Change".
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the answer which I gave on 30 October to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) at column501.