§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 1990 allocation of the Community support framework for operational programmes 3 and 4 from the Commission of the European Community was received by his Department; and if it is currently attracting interest payments.
§ Mr. MaudeThe United Kingdom's contribution to the Community budget is paid into a Community account held in the United Kingdom, from which payments to the United Kingdom are also usually made. For the structural funds' objective 3 and 4 programmes, EC payments to the United Kingdom follow the pattern of our other budget receipts. On authorisation by the Commission from time to time, the sums are withdrawn from the Community's account in the United Kingdom and paid to the sponsor department for onward transmission to end recipients. Payments for objective 3 and 4 programmes have therefore been made by the Treasury when authorised by the Commission; and subsequently by Departments when they have been vetted. The United Kingdom derives the benefit from any balance on the Community's account which the Commission has not authorised to be paid for any particular purpose.