To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on equipment in each year since 1997. (242878)

Since 2003 equipment expenditure data are published annually in Table 1.4 of the UK Defence Statistics by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DAS A). Copies can be found in the National Statistics section of the DAS A website:

www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/natstatsindex.html

This shows that the proportion of the Ministry of Defence's budget spent on equipment over the past five financial years has been as follows:

Earlier information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.