§ Mr. Robert B. Jonesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the early payment of non-value added tax own resources to the European Communities in July.
§ Mr. BrookeIn accordance with article 10(2) of Council Regulation 2891/77, the Commission has invited member states to advance from August the payment of own resources other than VAT in respect of agricultural, sugar and isoglucose levies and customs duties collected by the Government on its behalf.
In accordance with this request, the Government propose to make an advance payment of some £118 million on 21 July, this will be financed initially by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund, pending Royal Assent for the Estimate approved by the House on 10 July. The payment of levies and duties on the due date will be reduced by the amount of the advance. There will, therefore, be no net addition to public expenditure.