§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual revenue implications for Her Majesty's Government in travel, subsistence, additional staffing of Parliament, Ministries, and Community institutions including the European Assembly, arising out of United Kingdom membership of the EEC.
§ Mr. Joel Barnett, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th November 1975; Vol. 901, c. 46.], gave the following information:
On the question of the annual revenue implication of travel and subsistence costs arising from United Kingdom membership of the EEC, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service.
On additional staffing, the position so far as United Kingdom Departments are concerned is that membership of the EEC has affected a wide range of work in most major Government Departments. 293W It would not therefore be meaningful to attempt to identify separately the number of posts involved.
In the case of Parliament, however, there have been increases of 18 and nine in the staff of the Commons and Lords respectively at a total annual cost of £125,000 and £42,000 respectively.
Finally, the United Kingdom contributes through the Community Budget to the cost of Community institutions, which include the European Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Accession. Our gross contribution to the 1975 budget, which totals approximately £2,611 million, is 13.57 per cent. or £354 million.