HC Deb 23 October 1975 vol 898 cc228-9W
Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer where full details of the EEC Budget for 1975 are made available.

Mr. Joel Barnett

The 1975 Community Budget was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 28th February (No. L 54.)

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates are made of EEC expenditure for the three years ahead; and by what method is such expenditure arrived at.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Forecasts of expenditure by the European Communities in the three years 1976 to 1978 were included in Volume 7 of the 1976 preliminary draft budget which was circulated as R/2145/75. The forecasts are prepared by the Commission, and distinguish between expenditure on policies already agreed by the Council, expenditure which would result from proposals submitted to the Council but not yet approved, and expenditure which would result from proposals under consideration by the Commission which have not so far been submitted to the Council.

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what methods the Council of Ministers and the Commission take into account the views of the Assembly in relation to the EEC Budget.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Article 203 of the Treaty of Rome provides that the draft budget, after it is established—i.e. approved—by the Council, should be sent to the Assembly for its consideration. The Assembly has the right to propose modifications in expenditure provided for in the draft budget which results necessarily from the Treaty (obligatory expenditure) and to make amendments to the provision for other expenditure (non-obligatory expenditure). Amendments adopted and modifications proposed by the Assembly are then considered by the Council; if the Council does not accept the amendments or modifications the draft budget is again sent to the Assembly for its consideration. When this procedure is completed the President of the Assembly declares that the budget has been finally adopted.

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the EEC budgeting and expenditure and revenues for 1975–76.

Mr. Joel Barnett

The European Communities' financial year is on a calendar year basis. As regards the Community Budget for 1976 I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Marquand) on 15th October.—[Vol. 887, c.714–6.]