§ 54. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Economic Community budget problem.
§ Mr. HurdI have nothing to add to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. EvansIf the right hon. Gentleman has read that statement, does he not realise that many questions were left unanswered by the Chancellor yesterday? As the sum was not approved by the Assembly—by a large majority—does the Assembly have the final say in the matter? Can it determine the way in which United Kingdom refunds are spent here, and can the Assembly, if it agrees to make the payment, ask for control over United Kingdom refunds? In particular, is the financing of individual projects to be determined by the Assembly?
§ Mr. HurdThe Treaty gives the directly elected Parliament powers in relation to Community budgets, including the power to reject the budget when there are important reasons for so doing and to ask the Commission to submit a new draft.