§ Mr. Sternasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in securing payment of the 1983 refunds from the European Community.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Commission of the European Communities announced on 18 October decisions granting the United Kingdom a total of £587 million in Community support under the special measures regulations 1888/84, 1889/84 and 1890/84 which were adopted on 26 June. £587 million is the equivalent of 991 million ecu and represents the gross refunds. The net figure after allowing for the United Kingdom's own contribution is some £440 million, or 750 million ecu. Payment of the refunds fulfils the agreement reached by the Stuttgart European Council