§ 17. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the defence budget, expressed as a percentage of GDP, was in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 1996–97 in the UK, (ii) France, (iii) Germany and (iv) Belgium. [152714]
§ Mr. SpellarThe defence budgets of the countries stated, expressed as a percentage of their GDP, are:
- UK—2.5 per cent. in 2000–01, and 2.9 per cent. in 1996–97;
- France—2.7 per cent. in 2000–01, and 3.0 per cent. in 1996–97;
- Germany—1.5 per cent. in 2000–01, and 1.6 per cent. in 1996–97;
- Belgium—1.4 per cent. in 2000—01, and 1.6 per cent. in 1996—97.
It should be noted that the figure of 2.5 per cent. for the UK this year reflects the increase in the Defence budget as a result of the Supplementary Estimate laid last month. The previously reported figure was 2.4 per cent.
§ 30. Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the level of the defence budget expressed as a percentage of GDP in each of the last four financial years for which figures are available. [152727]
§ Mr. SpellarThe defence budget as a percentage of the GDP for the last four completed financial years is as follows:
- 1996–97: 2.9 per cent.
- 1997–98: 2.7 per cent.
- 1998–99: 2.6 per cent.
- 1999–2000: 2.6 per cent.