HL Deb 06 February 1974 vol 349 cc773-5
LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what the financial commitments are to the E.E.C. since the Treaty of Accession was signed, and what is so far the financial gain to the United Kingdom.

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, the Government contribution to the Community Budget is estimated at about £150 million in respect of 1973. Receipts from the Budget in 1973 were about £65 million. Both contributions and receipts will continue on a rising scale during the transitional period.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, does it not appear from that reply that our benefits have been minimal, and is it not about time we put an end to this farce and stopped making ourselves bankrupt in order to suit the French?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, we never entered the European Economic Community with the idea of making a short-term financial gain; we entered because we thought it was in the long-term economic interests of this country.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, will the Government take an opportunity to point out to anti-Marketeers with a similar outlook to that of the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell, that the whole object of creating a community of nations is to increase the wellbeing of the community as a whole, and not simply, and always, to make a calculation based on that of individual gain and loss?

LORD ABERDARE

Yes, my Lords, I would agree with that.

LORD BLYTON

But, my Lords, surely the Minister will agree that in our first year the cost has been colossal, with a deficiency of £1,120 million in the balance of trade, 1 per cent. of V.A.T. and our contributions to the Agricultural Fund, plus our contribution over the Exchanges. Surely we ought to be told the whole facts as to what it is costing us.

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, in point of fact the net contribution to the Community Budget, estimated at £100 million, turned out, so far as we can estimate the 1973 figure, to be £85 million.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, does not the noble Lord recall speeches made in your Lordships' House when we debated this subject before the Treaty of Accession was signed, when many Members in your Lordships' House who are associated with industry and commerce and finance in this country paraded the virtues of association with E.E.C. because it would mean financial gain, opportunities for investment and a market of 250 million from which vast benefits were going to accrue to us? Does the noble Lord recall those speeches?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I recall in particular the vote taken on that occasion; but I would also draw the attention of the noble Lord to an Economist survey published on December 29 last year, which showed that 84 per cent. of leading companies believe that membership of the Community will be helpful in the longer term.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, may we now accept definitely the ipse dixit of the noble Lord that we are not concerned about financial gain? Is this associated with the "unacceptable face of capitalism"?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I said, immediate financial gain.