§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the most up to date figures for the United Kingdom contribution to the European Economic Commission budget in each year from 1975 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1986 prices.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1987]: The figures requested are set out in the table herewith.
£ million Year Cash1 Constant 1986 prices2 1975 -56 -161 1976 167 417 1977 369 810 1978 822 1,620 1979 947 1,630 1980 706 1,014 1981 397 511 1982 606 725 1983 647 737 1984 656 718 1985 1,808 31,865 19865 326 4326 1United Kingdom figures showing payments to the Community budget on a cash flow basis. Budget refunds and abatements are credited to the year in which they are paid. 2Constant price figures have been constructed using the GDP deflator. 3The 1985 budget contained a flat rate VAT abatement for the United Kingdom of 1,000 mecu (£605 million), payable in respect of the United Kingdom's contribution in 1984. £166 million of this was received by the end of December 1985. The balance, £439 million, was received in the first few days of January 1986. The delay in payment reduced the 1986 figure and increased that for 1985. 4The 1986 net contribution is the estimate contained in the Statement on the 1986 Community Budget (Cmnd. 9907) published in October 1986. 5Estimated.