§ 19. Mr. HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on jobs in the defence industry of reducing United Kingdom defence spending to the European average. [12045]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotA reduction in UK defence expenditure to the current NATO European average would result in cuts of over £4.5 billion per year. This would have a drastic effect on the capability of our armed forces and the future equipment programme. The implications for jobs in the defence industry would be severe.
§ 27. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British jobs are sustained by the defence industry; and if he will make a statement. [12054]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotEstimates of UK employment dependent on my Department's expenditure and on defence exports appear in table 1.10 of "UK Defence Statistics 1995", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.