§ Mr. Spearingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the main sources of Unted Kingdom contributions to the revenue of the European Communities and indicate any projections made in global total or make up.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe United Kingdom's payments to the Community budget during the transitional period to 1979 are limited by reference to a percentage share of the budget in accordance with the Treaty of Accession. Until 1977 the United Kingdom's payments to the Community budget are expected to be made entirely from agricultural levies and customs duties. Under the present arrangements any additional payments needed to meet the percentage share in 1978 and 1979 would be made on the basis of VAT payments if there is agreement on a uniform assessment basis or, in the absence of such agreement, by reference to member States' shares of Community gross national product. On the basis of present policies and budgetary arrangements, United Kingdom payments to, and receipts from, the budget in the years to 1979 are forecast to be:
£ million 1974 prices Gross Contributions Receipts Net Contributions 1975 280 180 100 1976 370 205 165 1977 450 230 220 1978 505 240 265 1979 550 240 310
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method the United Kingdom pays its share of EEC revenue; from what fund it is paid; and on what authority.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe United Kingdom's contributions to the budget of the European Communities are paid monthly by transfer from the Consolidated Fund under Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972.