Community Budget (Hansard, 22 December 1982)

§ 47. Mr. Arnold
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress he has made towards finding a permanent solution to the European Economic Community budget problem in 1983 and beyond.

§ Mr. Pym
As instructed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 November, the Committee of Permanent Representatives has begun work on the Commission paper on the budget solution. The Council will discuss this again in January.

§ Mr. Arnold
What timetable does my right hon. Friend propose to set himself for the successful completion of the negotiations?

§ Mr. Pym
There is no set timetable. I shall make the best progress that I can. If a conclusion has not been reached by March the matter is likely to appear on the agenda of the European Council, but I hope that we shall make reasonable progress.

§ Mr. Ioan Evans
The right hon. Gentleman talks about a settlement of the 1983 budget, but the 1982 budget has 941 not yet been settled. If we succeed in obtaining the £500 million refund, will he insist that we are not dictated to on how we should spend it?

§ Mr. Pym
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The Commission has given an absolute assurance about the arrangements agreed at the end of October and we are content to rest on that.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
As we have now been waiting 10 years for a permanent budget solution to be found, not to mention reform of the common agricultural policy, will the Government set out in a White Paper the ways in which they believe these difficult objectives may best be achieved?

§ Mr. Pym
The initiatives that we take in the Council are well known and much commented on in the press. We shall do our best to make progress with them.

§ Mr. Jay
May we be assured that the £500 million owing to us will be handed over not later than the end of March next year?

§ Mr. Pym
The Commission has given undertakings to that effect. It has given assurances that the United Kingdom will in no way be worsted as a result of what occurred and will ensure adherence to the agreement reached at the end of October.