§ Dr. Goodson-WickesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual defence expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product from 1963.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
275W
Per cent. 1963–64 6.0 1964–65 5.7 1965–66 5.7
Per cent. 1966–67 5.6 1967–68 5.5 1968–69 5.1 1969–70 4.7 1970–71 4.8 1971–72 4.9 1972–73 4.7 1973–74 4.7 1974–75 4.7 1975–76 4.9 1976–77 4.9 1977–78 4.6 1978–79 4.5 1979–80 4.6 1980–81 4.9 1981–82 5.0 1982–83 5.2 1983–84 5.2 1984–85 5.3 1985–86 5.1 1986–87 4.8 1987–88 4.4 1988–89 4.0 1989–90 4.0 1990–91 4.0 1991–92 4.2 1992–93 4.0 Notes:
1. Figures include exceptional expenditure on Falklands/Gulf conflict but exclude Gulf burden sharing contributions from other Governments.
2. Figures from 1978–79 take account of the technical changes in the treatment of Armed Forces and civilian pensions described in the 1992 Autumn Statement (Cm 2096) and other classification changes. It has not been possible to adjust figures for years before 1978–79 on to a fully consistent basis and comparisons with 1978–79 and later years may therefore be unreliable.
3. Figure for 1992–93 as at Spring Supplementary Estimate.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of the United Kingdom's defence spending in each of the last 10 years in(a) cash prices (b) constant prices and (c) as a proportion of gross national product.
§ Mr. HanleyDetailed information on the level of the United Kingdom's defence spending between 1983–84 and 1992–93 was set out in the "Statistical Supplement to the 1992 Autumn Statement", Cm 2219.