HC Deb 31 October 1979 vol 972 c524W
53. Mr. Jay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in securing a fairer contribution by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community budget.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Her Majesty's Government have continued to build on the progress made by the Prime Minister at the June European Council. The European Commission has produced a reference paper which demonstrates the serious inequity of the United Kingdom's prospective net contribution, and will shortly be submitting to member States its proposals for a solution. The Government hope that these proposals will provide the basis for agreement, at next month's European Council, on a solution which will remedy the present inequity, and ensure that it does not arise again.