§ Mr. Spearingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decision was taken by the EEC Council of Ministers (Finance) on 19th December last concerning the additions made by the 754W Assembly to the Regional Fund; and by how much the sun finally approved exceeded the amount originally authorised by the Finance Ministers.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe European Council on 6th December 1977 agreed to renew the Regional Development Fund with resources of 1,850 million European Units of Account (meua), approximately £1,200 million for the three years 1978 to 1980. The Council considered that, of this total 580 meua—£377 million approximately—should be included as a commitment appropriation in the 1978 Community budget with a payment appropriation of 460 meua—£300 million approximately. The European Parliament, when it adopted the 1978 Community budget, included commitment appropriations for the Regional Development Fund totalling 581 meua—£378 million approximately—with payment appropriations of 525 meua—£340 million approximately. In order to provide for this and other increases over the 1977 budget, the Council, on 19th December 1977, agreed to an increase in the maximum rate of increase in the non-obligatory expenditure to be included in the Community budget.