§ 35. Mr. Marlowasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make arrangements to discuss with his European colleagues changes in the structure and financing of the EEC.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I think that I should apologise all round. I tried not to call for a supplementary question any hon. Member whose question was likely to be reached, but I have called the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow).
§ Sir Ian GilmourNo, Sir. We are not challenging the own-resources system of financing the Community. However, at Dublin it was agreed to look for ways of increasing Community expenditure in the United Kingdom and on the need to consider longer-term restructuring of the budget to reduce the predominance of agricultural spending. Discussions on how to achieve this are continuing.
§ Mr. MarlowIs my right hon. Friend aware that if we do not achieve a satisfactory solution rapidly the recent suggestion by the Leader of the Opposition about withholding VAT payments will have a great deal of support on the Conservative Benches?
§ Sir I. GilmourAs I have already told the House, we are working for an equitable solution. We have been putting across our case, and none more strongly than my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in her broadcast. That is what we are aiming to achieve at the next summit conference.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyIs not the Lord Privy Seal aware that the own-resources system is a crazy system, which works very strongly against our interests? Why is he not considering some other means of financing the Community if he is so determined that Britain should continue as a member?
§ Sir I. GilmourI do not agree that it is necessarily a crazy system. I am not 1333 sure to what degree the hon. Lady understands the system. It does not work in the case of Britain, and that is why we are seeking to adjust it. However, that does not necessarily mean that it is wrong in itself.