§ 32. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom of membership of the EEC; and what action he plans to take.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettOur estimates of the United Kingdom contributions to, and receipts from, the Communities' budget until 1983 has been given in the Government's expenditure plans 1979–80 to 1982–83 (Cmnd.7439). In addition, other factors are relevant such as the food trade effects and the effects on our trade in raw materials, manufactured goods and services. These in turn have to be measured against trends in the world economy. The results of any exercise to calculate the net economic benefit or cost of Membership of the EEC would be imprecise. But the Government's concern about the level of Britain's contribution to the EEC budget is well known.