§ Mr. Higginsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) by what means he proposes to inform the House of a payment of own resources made in advance at the demand of the European Commission, following the decision of the European Court of Justice in case 93/85; and whether the House will be given the opportunity of expressing an opinion on the circumstances which have given rise to the need for the advancing of payments before the transfer is made;
(2) whether, since the decision of the European Court of Justice in case 93/85 is contrary to the Government's contention that advance payments of own resources to the European Commission require specific parliamentary approval, the United Kingdom intends to propose in the Council of Ministers the amendment or annulment of articles 10 and 11 of Council regulation 1891/77, so far as they involve an absolute liability to make such payments and impose a penalty for late compliance;
(3) what estimate he had made of the extent to which current cash flow problems of the Community are likely to give rise to demands for advanced payments of own resources in the present European Community budgetary year.
§ Mr. BrookeI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.