Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the Budget Council in Brussels on 22nd November.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe Budget Council considered the amendments and proposed modifications to the 1978 draft Community Budget adopted by the European Parliament on 26th October. The draft budget, approved by the Council of Ministers in July, totalled 12,267 million European Units of Account (meua) or £7,990 million approximately in commitment appropriations and 11,959 meua, or £7,790 million in payment appropriations. The European Parliament's amendments and modifications would have increased the total budget by 923 meua—£600 mil-42W lion, approximately—in commitment appropriations and 604 meua—£390 million approximately—in payment appropriations.
The Council agreed to increases to the draft budget totalling 71 meua—£46 million approximately—in commitment appropriations and 163 meua—£106 million approximately—in payment appropriations.
The main amendments and modifications adopted by the European Parliament concerned the Regional Development Fund, the Social Fund, energy, food, aid and aid to non-associated developing countries.
On the Regional Development Fund, the Council considered that final decisions on the provision for the Fund in the 1978 budget should not be taken until the review of the Fund is completed. In order to ensure that the matter remained open, the Council therefore rejected the European Parliament's amendment. Provision for the Regional Development Fund will be decided in December.
On the Social Fund, the Council accepted the increase in payment appropriations of 136 meua—£89 million, approximately, proposed by the European Parliament.
The European Parliament proposed that the provision for energy policies should be increased by 96.5 meua—£62 million, approximately—in commitment appropriations and 38 meua—£25 million, approximately. The Council agreed to increases of 30 meua—£20 million, approximately—in commitment appropriations and 14 meua—£8 million, approximately—in payment appropriations, in line with its general policy that provision should only be made for existing policies.
On food aid, the European Parliament proposed an increase of 206 meua—£130 million, approximately. The Council will decide on this proposal following the Council of Development Ministers at the end of November.
For aid to non-associated developing countries, the European Parliament proposed an increase in commitment appropriations of 40 meua—£26 million, approximately. The Council agreed to an increase of 20 meua—£13 million, approximately.