Defence expenditure

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on defence expenditure. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
08.01.2013Defence expenditure: Social Indicators page
Defence expenditure: Social Indicators page. By Gavin Berman. SN/SG/2623.
01.10.2012The cost of international military operations
This note provides a summary of the estimated and actual costs of the international military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
08.02.2012The Defence of the Falkland Islands
This note looks at the UK defence presence in the Falkland Islands and reviews the current debate about whether the Islands are adequately defended in the event of future aggression.
16.10.2009Defence Expenditure
Defence Expenditure. By Sophie Gick. SN/SG/113.

Research Papers

DateDescription
12.02.2008China's Military Posture
17.09.2004Defence White Paper:future capabilities
The Defence White Paper: future capabilities. House of Commons Library Research Paper 04/72.
19.07.2002Defence Statistics - July 2002
Defence Statistics - July 2002. House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/48.
21.12.2000Defence Statistics 2000
Defence Statistics 2000. House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/99. (Updates RP 99/112).
15.10.1998The Strategic Defence Review White Paper
The strategic defence review White Paper. House of Commons Library Research Paper 98/91.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
13.09.2011The performance of the Ministry of Defence 2009-10.
Government response. Defence Select Committee; Ministry of Defence report [Commons]
15.02.2011The major projects report 2010.
Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
08.12.2010Managing the defence budget.
Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
08.12.2009MoD winter supplementary estimate 2009-10.
Defence Select Committee report [Commons]
27.10.2009Ministry of Defence Main Estimates 2009-10.
Government response. Ministry of Defence; Defence Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
14.09.2011DEFENCE BUSINESS SERVICES
That this House expresses profound concern at the proposed appointment of a commercial management company to partner Defence Business Services; believes that allowing a private sector ...
17.02.2011TRIDENT SUBMARINE PROPOSALS
That this House strongly condemns the Government plans to order the steel for the first new Trident replacement submarine before any formal decision is made on whether to go ahead with ...
27.10.2010TRIDENT REPLACEMENT
That this House welcomes the announcement of a reduction in operational warheads from 160 to 120 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and a delay in the Main Gate decision ...
26.05.2010TRIDENT AND THE STRATEGIC DEFENCE AND SECURITY REVIEW
That this House welcomes the Government's intention to hold a strategic defence and security review; notes with concern the stated intention to conduct it without giving due consideration ...
01.02.2010CONDUCT OF LORD MANDELSON
That this House notes that the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, right hon. Lord Mandelson, told the North West Evening Mail newspaper on 23 January 2010 of the ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library