§ Mr. Mageeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the latest available figures for the total sums received by the United Kingdom from EEC institutions since the beginning of British membership, and the total sums contributed by the United Kingdom to the same institutions during the same period.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe following is the information, based in some cases on figures of provisional outturn.
Community Budget
In the period from 1st January 1973 to 31st March 1975 the United Kingdom 666W received approximately £337 million from the budget of the European Communities. Of this total about £275 million was received by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund for market regulation under the common agricultural policy; about £22 million was received from the European Social Fund and about £37 million was the refund of the cost of collecting "own resources". Other miscellaneous sums totalling £3 million were also received in the period. During the period 1st January 1973 to 31st March 1975 the United Kingdom contributed £424 million to the Community Budget.
In addition to the sums, listed above, which have already been received from the Community budget, a further £32 million has been allocated to the United Kingdom from the European Social Fund and there are commitments to pay the United Kingdom about £12 million from the Guidance Section of the EAGGF. The Community is also committed to pay £3 million to United Kingdom companies in respect of projects in the hydrocarbons sector.
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Up to 31st March 1975 the EIB had made loans totalling about £136 million to United Kingdom organisations, most of which has been received. In this period approximately £46 million was paid by the United Kingdom as a contribution to the capital and reserves of the bank.
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Grants to the United Kingdom totalling about £13 million were approved by the ECSC in the period from 1st January 1973 to date. Of this about £1 million has been received so far. The ECSC has also contracted to pay about £7 million in research grants to the United Kingdom. In the same period the ECSC approved loans for the United Kingdom steel industry of about £64 million in total of which about £47 million has been received to date. This does not take account of the loan of £15.5 million for modernisation of the Ebbw Vale tinplate works announced by the Commission on 21st May 1975. In addition, a further £70 million has been received so far in 667W respect of projects submitted to the ECSC by the National Coal Board with requests for loans.
The United Kingdom has paid approximately £24 million as a contribution to the reserves of the ECSC in this period and up to 31st March 1975 approximately £15 million in production levies.