HC Deb 12 July 1993 vol 228 cc361-2W
Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, in real terms and as a proportion of gross domestic product, the expenditure on the armed forces for each year since 1979 and the projections in such terms for such annual expenditure for as many years into the future as is practicable.

Mr. Hanley

Previous and planned expenditure on the armed forces between 1979–80 and 1995–96 was set out in the "Statistical Supplement to the 1992 Autumn Statement", (Cm 2219). Planned defence expenditure between 1993–94 and 1995–96 as a proportion of the forecast GDP gross domestic product—not given in the supplement—is as follows:

  • 1993–94 —3.7 per cent.
  • 1994–95 —3.5 per cent.
  • 1995–96 —3.2 per cent.