The defence cuts

DEFENCE is to take the brunt of the cuts that were detailed by the Prime Minister in his statement to the House of Commons on January 16 on public expenditure for the period 1968–69 and 1969–70. Since it took office in 1964, and after the announced cuts have come into effect, the Government will have increased its annual rate of civil expenditure by 43 per cent in real terms. At the same time, defence expenditure will have been cut by 17 per cent, also in real terms. In its defence policy the Government seems bemused with cost and untarnished by effectiveness.