§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 22 January, Official Report, column 197, if the Government have yet applied to the European Court for suspension of implementation by the Commission of the disputed elements in the budget pending substantive judgment by the Court; what estimate he has made of the duration of the legal proceedings at the European Court in making financial provisions for additional payments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 68]: Pending substantive judgment by the European Court, the Government hope to submit within the next 10 days their application to the Court for an interim order suspending implementation by the Commission of the disputed element in the budget. The Special 187W Supplementary Estimate approved by the House on 3 February contains provision for three months of additional payments, during which time it is hoped the Court will decide whether to grant our application for an interim order. The Court is not expected to reach judgment on the substantive cases before the end of 1986.