The World - News from May 18, 1988

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government proposed a “level” $35.5-billion military budget for 1988-89. Defense Secretary George Younger told a news conference in London that, adjusting for inflation, the new budget is equivalent to last year’s $34.7-billion spending plan. Younger said the proposed military budget is “one of the highest” in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and represents 4.7% of Britain’s gross national product, a percentage surpassed by only the United States and Greece. Younger said Britain will update its independent nuclear forces, particularly by replacing free-fall nuclear bombs with air-to-ground missiles on its Tornado aircraft.