Defence Expenditure

24.

Mr. van Straubenzee
asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what proportion of gross national product he expects expenditure on defence to rise during the current financial year.

Mr. Pym
As a proportion of gross domestic product, defence expenditure according to the NATO definition is expected to increase from 4.9 per cent. in 1979–80 to 5.1 per cent. in 1980–81.