Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 February 1964.
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
12:00,
19 February 1964
asked the Minister of Defence if he will give details of the proposed increase in arms expenditure of £265 million a year by 1967–68.
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Monmouth
No, Sir, but the figure takes account of rising living standards for the Service man as well as the growing cost and complexity of equipment.
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
Surely that is not right? There is an increase of only £30 million a year for soldiers' pay. Since the Government have decided to increase the arms burden by £160 million a year, plus millions of pounds of hidden expenditure in a single year, is it not a fact that the £265 million estimate is a serious understatement of the Government's arms expenditure?
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Monmouth
No, Sir.
Mr Christopher Mayhew
, Woolwich East
Does this figure make provision to replace the military aid so misguidedly cut off by the Americans?
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Monmouth
That is a rather minimal aspect of these matters.
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
The right hon. Gentleman replied to me "No, Sir". But how can he agree to £265 million being a reasonable estimate for three years—it is a fantastic figure in the opinion of many people—when he will spend nearly that in the first year alone?
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Monmouth
I think we could debate the cost of defence when we come to the debate. That will be better than starting a wide-ranging discussion at Question Time.
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