asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will give, for the second half of 1970, the estimated or actual savings on defence expenditure compared with the first half of 1970; and, on this basis, what will be the actual or estimated savings or increased expenditure compared with the 1971 estimates.

We have no reason at present to suppose that defence expenditure in 1970–71 will at constant prices be significantly out of line with the estimate, which was £2,387 million at 1970 survey prices. The 1971–72 forecast of £2,327 million at 1970 survey prices published in the supplementary statement on defence policy (Cmnd. 4521) thus represents a reduction of £60 million.