HC Deb 14 November 1973 vol 864 cc170-1W
Mr. Lead bitter

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the budget figures for the Common Market in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and the budget proposals for 1974.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I have been asked to reply.

The European Communities' budget, including supplementary budgets, was 3,910 million units of account (mua) for 1971, 4,177 mua for 1972 and is 5,134 mua for 1973. The draft budget for 1974 as established by the Council amounts to 5,026 mua; this is now being considered by the European Parliament, and is available in the Vote Office.

Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Great Britain's share of the EEC budget to date; and what contribution by Her Majesty's Government to the EEC has been estimated for 1974.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I have been asked to reply.

Allowing for the refund of collection costs, the United Kingdom's gross contribution to the European Communities' budget to date has been £128 million and for 1974 is estimated at about £200 million. There are, however, substantial offsetting receipts from Community funds, and it is likely that the United Kingdom net contribution for both 1973 and 1974 will be of the order of £80 million to £90 million.

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