§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the numbers of jobs in the United Kingdom's armed forces and defence industries represented by each £1,000 million of defence expenditure.
§ Mr. BlakerI estimate that in 1981–82 each £1,000 million of the £2,826 million devoted to service pay and allowances—excluding service retired pay and pensions — represented 121,000 posts in the regular United Kingdom forces, including locally-entered personnel.
In the same period I estimate that each £1,000 million of the £5,638 million, including VAT, devoted to defence equipment sustained about 75,000 job opportunities, both direct and indirect, in United Kingdom industries.
Similarly, I estimate that each £1,000 million of the £1,910 million, including VAT, devoted to other categories of defence expenditure in 1981–82 sustained about 85,000 job opportunities, both direct and indirect, in United Kingdom industry.
Note: "Other categories of defence expenditure" includes construction, food, fuel, telecommunications and transport.