§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Minister of State in his statement on 26 May, Official Report, c. 1004, assessed the United Kingdom's 1981 net contribution by including in contributions only the United Kingdom's contribution to the allocated budget while including in receipts the refunds payable from the unallocated budget, to which the United Kingdom had to make a contribution; and if he is satisfied that this accounting procedure provides a fair basis for assessing the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RifkindIt has been accepted by all concerned since the negotiations on our budget contribution commenced that the proper way to assess the problem was in terms of net transfers within the Community, and the discussions have always been conducted on the basis of that part of the budget where expenditure is allocated between member States. In giving a figure for our net contribution after refunds, my right hon. Friend naturally followed this convention.