§ 47. Mr. Spearingasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will specify the nature of the European Economic Community instrument that will authorise the amount of repayment to the United Kingdom from the European Economic Community budget of 1981; and which body or bodies will authorise the relevant amount.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe instruments under which payments will be made are the revised financial mechanism regulation and the regulation establishing supplementary measures in favour of the United Kingdom, drafts of which were debated by this House on 2 July. The amounts to be entered in the budget of a particular year, or in a supplementary budget, will be decided by the Council and the Parliament, acting as the budgetary authority, in the normal way. The formal adoption of the budget or supplementary budget will constitute the authority for the Commission to disburse the amounts agreed.
§ Mr. SpearingWithin the criteria laid down by the Commission, what will be the Government's criteria for selecting the projects in the programme to be put forward, and which Government Department will put them forward to the Commission or the Council?
§ Sir I. GilmourThe projects to be put forward are still under discussion. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the 1485 general categories that we have in mind. Presumably the projects will be put forward by the Foreign Office, but in conjunction with all other Departments concerned. They will not necessarily be put forward by the same Department.
§ Mr. BudgenWill my right hon. Friend tell the House whether it is the Government's intention to press for an expansion of the regional and social funds? If that is his intention, how does it square with the general objective of trying to reduce the Community budget?
§ Sir I. GilmourThat is a separate point. Restructuring implies that there will be more expenditure on some aspects, and less on others.