Where did British public money go before World War II?

What did Britain spend money on before World War II instead of defence?

Education, local services, some health care, infrastructure, foreign policy, administration, and the costs of governing the empire all competed for funds.

Public money before the Second World War went to education, municipal programs, limited health care, foreign policy, infrastructure, and administration as well as defence. Administering the British Empire was also expensive. These commitments placed naval procurement inside a wider state budget. A cancelled ship therefore represented resources available for other government priorities.