HC Deb 30 March 1971 vol 814 cc315-6W
38. Mr. Marten

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect would the British proposals, starting with a 3 per cent. opening contribution to the European Economic Community budget, have on the public expenditure programme outlined in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 4578.

Mr. Maurice Macmillan

It is too early to make worthwhile estimates.

Miss Quennell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, showing the average annual growth-rate of the European Economic Community since its formation, compared with the average annual growth of the component European Economic Community countries before the formation of the Community over a similar period with comparative figures for the United Kingdom.

Mr. Higgins

The information is given in the table below. The figures for the separate countries are given for the longest periods for which comparable information is available from O.E.C.D.

AVERAGE ANNUAL RATES OF GROWTH OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT 1963 MARKET PRICES
Period covered Average annual percentage increase
European Economic Community 1958–69 5.5
United Kingdom 1958–69 3.1
Belgium 1953–58 2.6
France 1950–58 4.5
Germany 1950–58 7.8
Italy 1951–58 5.3
Netherlands 1950–58 4.2
United Kingdom 1950–58 2.3

Sources: E.E.C. National Accounts 1959–69.

O.E.C.D. National Accounts 1950–68.