§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by each nation in the EU in each of the last 10 years in pounds sterling on defence(a) in total and (b) per head of the population. [64195]
§ Mr. SpellarThe information requested for calendar years 1987 to 1997 is shown for NATO members of the European Union. Comparisons of defence spending between nations are conventionally given in US Dollars rather than pounds sterling. Figures for calendar years 1987 to 1995 are those which have been published in successive versions of the Statement on the Defence Estimates (SDE). Figures for 1996 are based on information drawn from NATO sources and those for 1997 are as published in the MOD Performance Report 1997–98 (Cm4170).
Where possible the figures are published against a common definition of defence spending so that true comparisons can be made. Some anomalies and inconsistencies will, however, remain. Particular care is needed in making year on year comparisons of the figures for the UK where there have been changes in the definition of defence spending in recent years and major transfers of responsibility to and from other Government Departments.
525WMy Department does not regularly collect details of defence spending for EU members who are not members of NATO. Figures for these countries are shown in The Military Balance which is published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The figures given in this publication for the last two years are shown below:
Defence expenditure (US$ millions) 1996 1997 Austria 2,098 1,786 Finland 2,255 1,956 Ireland 757 767 Sweden 6,501 5,481
Defence expenditure per capita (US $) 1996 1997 Austria 262 222 Finland 440 381 Ireland 209 210 Sweden 737 619