§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing each member State's contribution to the EEC Budget as a percentage of that country's gross national product.
§ Mr. LawsonThe following table shows gross and net contributions by member States to the 1979 Community budget as a percentage of their gross domestic product (GDP). It is based on the European Commission's latest estimates of Community revenue and expenditure.
As percentage of GDP Gross contribution Net gain/loss Belgium/Luxembourg 1.11 +0.70 Denmark 0.70 +0.92 Germany 0.76 -0.21 France 0.65 -0.05 Ireland 0.90 +5.07 Italy 0.70 +0.18 Netherlands 1.17 +0.16 United Kingdom 0.84 -0.47 + net budgetary gain; - net budgetary loss. Source of GDP estimates: "European Economy", July 1979.
The figures shown take account of refunds to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland of part of their own resources contributions, as laid down in 153W article 131 of the Treaty of Accession. This article imposes limits on the gross contributions of the acceding countries to the 1978 and 1979 budgets. The Commission calculated in September 1979 that the United Kingdom would qualify for a refund in respect of the 1979 budget of £258.3 million and the Irish Republic for a refund of £1.9 million. These refunds are financed outside the Community budget and the cost is divided amongst the six original member States in proportion to their marginal contribution to the budget.
If the provisions of article 131 had not been in operation in 1979 the United Kingdom's gross contribution would have amounted to 0.98 per cent. of its GDP and its net contribution to 0.62 per cent. of its GDP.