HC Deb 19 December 1980 vol 996 c365W
Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government's determination to recover some of the funds contributed to the EEC was discussed at the Dublin meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland and Ministers, particularly in the context of the financing of Government expenditure in Northern Ireland.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

As the hon. Member will know, the Government negotiated with our Community partners on 30 May an agreement which provides for very substantial refunds to the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland, as elsewhere, these refunds are making possible a higher level of public expenditure than the country could otherwise have afforded. There was, accordingly, no need to raise the matter in the discussions with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.