§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister to what extent the agreement he has arrived at during the EEC Heads of Government conference in Brussels on 4th December concerning the payment of salaries of British elected delegates to the European Assembly being on a par with those paid to British Members of Parliament, also applies to expenses and travel reimbursements ; and whether travel expenses of these delegates to and from their homes and constituencies and the places of Assembly will be taxable as with British Members of the House of Commons or tax-free as applied to Members of the House of Lords.
§ The Prime Minister:The agreement to which my hon. Friend refers applies only to salaries. Allowances for Members of the European Assembly will continue to be fixed, as at present, by the Assembly.
The Government believe that these allowances should be calculated to meet the actual expenses incurred by Members of the Assembly in the execution of their duties. The Inland Revenue regards any surplus of the allowances over actual expenditure as being subject to national taxation.