§ Mr. Sternasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the payment in June of May non-value added tax own resources to the European Communities.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIn accordance with article 10(2) of Council regulation 2891/77, the Commission has invited member states to pay on 20 June instead of 19 July non-VAT own resources collected in May. These own resources consist of agricultural, sugar and isoglucose levies and customs duties. The Government are complying with this request.
An amount of £115 million will be paid on 20 June; the payment of levies and duties on 19 July 1985 which is made under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972 will be reduced by an appropriate amount. There will therefore be no net addition to public expenditure.