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Mr. Trotter
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the defence budget is spent on pay; and how this percentage compares with the United Kingdom's European NATO Allies.
Mr. Wellbeloved
In 1977–78 it is estimated that 40 per cent. of the United Kingdom defence budget will be devoted to Service and civilian pay allowances. The latest figures for other NATO countries relate to 1976. On the NATO definition of defence expenditure the United Kingdom position, compared with those of our European allies who report this information to NATO, is as follows:
| per cent. | |
| Belgium | 48·7 |
| Denmark | 53·3 |
| FRG | 37·0 |
| Italy | 38·1 |
| Netherlands | 49·6 |
| Norway | 48·4 |
| Portugal | 52·0 |
| United Kingdom (financial year 1976–77) | 38·6 (40·3 per cent· on national definition) |