Written question asked by Michael McCann (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 October 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 22 October 2010. It was answered by Gerald Howarth (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 October 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence: Expenditure

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 19 October 2010, Official Report, columns 797-801 on the Strategic Defence and Security Review, whether the figure to be notified to NATO in respect of the proportion of gross domestic product spent on defence was calculated on the basis of his Department's core budget; and what account this calculation took of direct funding of defence expenditure from the Exchequer.

Answer: The figures reported to NATO are for defence expenditure, detailed as per NATO instructions. This definition includes the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) core budget along with the cost of operations, pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments made to ex-military personnel, and non-budget costs.The MOD has estimated spending on defence as a percentage of GDP will continue to meet the NATO target of 2% over the spending review period.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 19319; 517 c448W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Strategic Defence and Security Review
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Proceeding contributions
House of Commons
Subjects: Defence Expenditure
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk