§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the cumulative balance of outstanding promissory notes to the European development fund in respect of past commitments; and when he expects disbursements to be made and the likely cost in each of the next three years.
§ Mr. Neil MartenOur contributions to the European development fund are payable in cash in January and July of each year on the basis of expenditure estimates drawn up by the Commission during the preceding autumn and revised if necessary during the year. Under the terms of the first and second Lom6 conventions respectively, the United Kingdom is committed to contribute £360 million to EDF IV and £510 million to EDF V (the amount will vary somewhat with the exchange rate). The rate of spending in the next three financial years therefore chiefly depends on the actual rate of EDF expenditure on individual projects and programmes as they are implemented. It is not the practice to publish estimates of our spending year by year on individual elements of the aid18W teral sections of the Vote, particularly subheads C1 andC2 (loans and grants). This pattern was followed in the previous three financial years when ther percentages unallocated in the Main Estimates were:
1977–78 14.8 1978–79 20.9 1979–80 (revised) 9.6 The table below shows how the unallocated portion, together with other net savings and increases in Vote provision, was distributed by major category of expenditure.
programme because these are based on intentions and assumptions which may not be realised.