HL Deb 30 July 1974 vol 353 cc2296-7WA
LORD O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To state:—

  1. (a) the total of British public expenditure in each of the last five years;
  2. (b) the annual British contribution to the E.E.C. budget to date;
  3. (c) the range of increase or decrease they anticipate in either over each of the next five years;
  4. (d) whether they expect the British contribution to the E.E.C. to exceed 2.5 per cent. of total British public expenditure.

LORD JACQUES

The answers to (a) and (b) are:

Statement on March 26 the Chancellor said that Her Majesty's Government would "consider the further reshaping of all expenditure programmes in the light of the general prospects for the economy and our own priorities" (House of Commons, Official Report, col. 304). The usual White Paper setting out the Government's expenditure proposals will be published later in the year. The level of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Communities' budget will depend on the results of discussions which are continuing in the Council of Ministers.

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