Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Defence – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 19 Chwefror 1964.
Mr Simon Digby
, West Dorset
12:00,
19 Chwefror 1964
asked the Minister of Defence what percentage of the gross national product is now being spent on defence.
Mr Simon Digby
, West Dorset
As this figure is not a very high one compared with what we were spending in 1952, does it not put in proper proportion the total amount of defence expenditure for the coming year, which shows an increase?
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Sir Fynwy
It compares with a figure of 9·8 per cent. in 1952–53 and shows quite a reduction.
Mr Gerald Reynolds
, Islington North
Does the 7 per cent. expenditure include next year or only the current year, as asked? If not, what will the figure be next year?
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Sir Fynwy
This is what is being spent on this year at the present time, and it looks like staying around 7 per cent., though there may be one point either way. The figure, of course, depends on the growth of the national product.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
