HC Deb 11 March 1971 vol 813 c159W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his offer to the European Economic Community of a 3 per cent. initial contribution to the Community budget took into account the need for the United Kingdom to pay a fair share of the running costs of the Community.

Mr. Godber

We believe that our offer, taken as a whole, would provide a reasonable and equitable contribution to the total budget—including the Community's running costs—over the transitional period.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current running costs of the European Economic Community; and what would be the United Kingdom share of such costs in the event of European Economic Community membership.

Mr. Godber

Current annual expenditure by the European Economic Community on administration amounts to less than 150 million units of accounts—i.e., less than £62.5 million. It forms an integral part of the Community's total budget, the size of the United Kingdom's contribution to which is one of the questions which are the subject of the present negotiations.

Miss Quennell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what section of the Treaty of Rome is secession forbidden to member States of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Godber

Article 240 of the Treaty of Rome provides that the Treaty is concluded for an unlimited period. The Treaty does not expressly forbid member States from seceding from the European Economic Community but makes no provision for secession.