Under Options for Change we could see there was going to be a reduction in defence expenditure.

Yet, as the report points out, global defence expenditures of the member states are estimated to total almost $1 trillion per year.

Greatly increased taxes and a major shift back to defence expenditure could be the least of our worries.

However, a Labour government came into power and was determined to cut defence expenditure.

In the United States there is currently a great debate taking place concerning defence expenditure.

However, what we can have is much more efficient and effective defence expenditure.

We then went further, and I agreed to put an oral amendment stating it should be "adequate defence expenditure".

All this will serve not only to reduce defence expenditure but also to increase the autonomy of the European Union on the international scene.

During a long period of peace - something we dare hope may continue - it is natural that we should reduce our defence expenditure.

And does he agree with me that we need to have convergence of defence expenditure by Member States?