§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the net and gross contribution figures to the EU Budget listed in Table 3 of HM Treasury White Paper, European Community Finances (Cm 4382) and (b) the ONS UK Balance of Payments 1999 edition, Table 9.2 and Table 9.7. [102350]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonTable 3 of the annual White Paper European Community Finances provides details, by calendar year, of UK contributions to, and public sector receipts from, the EU Budget broken down by the various elements. In particular, Cm 4382 contains outturn information in respect of years 1996 to 1998 and an estimate for 1999.
Section 9 of the ONS Pink Book presents a geographical breakdown of the current account of the balance of payments. Table 9.2 includes total UK current account credits and debits with EU Institutions, including trade in service receipts and balance of payments income transactions as well as official transfers to, and from, EU Institutions. Table 9.7 includes the total current account transfers to, and from, EU Institutions.
78WThus the coverage of Table 3 of the White Paper and Section 9 of the Pink Book are different. The White Paper covers all public sector payments to, and receipts from, the EU while the Pink Book also includes balance of payments transactions between EU Institutions and UK companies. However, Tables 3.11, 5.1 and 6.1 of the Pink Book record receipts from, and payments to, EU Institutions and are comparable in coverage to the White Paper net contribution figures.