§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the European Commission wishes to revise the allocation of funds under the "financial perspectives" and, if so, what sums are involved under which "budget" headings, and what is their response and why.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The Commission have not put forward any formal proposal to revise the Financial Perspective. However, comments made by President Santer at the end of January and reports in the press suggest that such a proposal might be forthcoming, and would involve some additional provision for spending on Trans-European Networks and Research, possibly offset by adjustments to expenditure ceilings elsewhere, notably in the provision for agriculture.
The UK is strongly opposed to any revision of the Financial Perspective, particularly where this would have the effect of increasing total Community expenditure. The Financial Perspective ceilings were agreed at Edinburgh in 1992 to enable the Community to meet its obligations from 1993 to 1999. Nothing has changed to render the basis for this agreement invalid.