§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Great Britain's contribution to the joint Common Market budget, in view of the French demand that Great Britain should have a maximum of five years, at the end of which Great Britain should pay 21.5 per cent. of an unrestricted growth annual budget; and what was Great Britain's response.
§ Mr. RipponThe range of the United Kingdom contribution to the budget of the European Economic Community is a matter for negotiation.
§ Mr. Merlyn Reesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Article 48 of the Treaty of Rome, which provides that workers in member States will have the right to accept offers of employment in other member States, will have freedom of 469W movement and residence between member States and a conditional right to remain in the territory of a member State after being employed in that territory is yet fully in operation.
§ Mr. RipponYes.
§ Mr. Fidlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will regard any figure in excess of 20 per cent. of the total Common Market budget, either between now and 1980 or after 1980, as an acceptable level for the United Kingdom contribution.
§ Mr. RipponThe range of United Kingdom contribution to budget of the European Economic Community is a matter for negotiation.
§ Mr. Fidlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he accepts the European Economic Community Report that Great Britain's contribution to the total Common Market budget, estimated at no more than 13–15 per cent. till 1980, will jump to 22–23 per cent. in the following one year.
§ Mr. RipponThe Community has not transmitted any report in these terms to Her Majesty's Government.