HC Deb 17 February 1983 vol 37 cc234-5W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the most recent figure of the contributions made and grants received from the European Community since 1973; and if he will express the net contribution since 1973 as a sum per day.

Mr. Ridley

[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1983, Vol. 37, c. 151]: Gross own resources payments made by the United Kingdom to the Community budget from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1982 amounted to £11,482 million. Total public sector receipts from the Community budget in the same period amounted to £7,571 million including the refunds payable under the agreement of 30 May 1980. Thus, net payments in this period amounted to £3,911 million as shown in the following table.

This is approximately £1 million a day since accession.

8787; when the first copies or copy was sent; when it arrived; and on what dates and in what numbers further copies were despatched and received.

Mr. Onslow

Ten copies of the report were despatched to the Civil Commissioner, for use as he saw fit, as soon as they became available on 18 January. He was also sent a summary of the report's main conclusions by telegram on the same date. The Civil Commissioner subsequently requested 15 extra copies for sale locally: these were despatched on 8 February. It is not known precisely when either batch of copies arrived, but the average transit time between London and Port Stanley is five days.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums have been contributed by other states, including the states of Jersey and Guernsey, to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Falkland Islands; and what assurance has been given to such states that their contributions are additional to the £31 million fund announced by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Onslow

In July 1982 the States of Jersey generously offered Her Majesty's Government a contribution of £5 million towards the recovery and re-establishment of the Falkland Islands as an unconditional donation. With their agreement, £250,000 was given to the Falkland Islands appeal and the remaining £4.75 million will be spent on a suitable rehabilitation or reconstruction project. This donation was calculated as part of the £15 million rehabilitation grants which have been announced to the House and which are additional to the £31 million development aid programme separately announced in the House on 8 December 1982.—[Vol. 33, c. 859.]

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what offers of land have been made to the Falkland Islands Government since May 1979; what decisions have been made by Her Majesty's Government concerning any such offers; what decisions are still awaited; and what request or advice has been received from the Falkland Islands Government in respect of any such offer.

Mr. Onslow

Since May 1979 the Falkland Islands Government have been offered three farms. Two of these farms they purchased from their own reserves. The third they did not buy because they considered the price too high. Both of the farms purchased were sub-divided into six units and resold. The Falkland Islands Government have now been offered first option on a three-farm estate in West Falkland which has been on the market for some time. The Falkland Islands Government have asked Her Majesty's Government to make funds available for the purchase from the £31 million allocated for the development aid programme. A decision is expected shortly.