§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that grant aid which may be forthcoming from the EEC to Northern Ireland in connection with the balancing of the United Kingdom EEC budgetary contribution will be additional to the Government's planned contribution to Northern Ireland.
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§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 11 February 1980]: It would be wiser to wait and see how our excessive net contribution is to be reduced before making proposals to spend the proceeds. However, we are negotiating to reduce our contribution, not only because it is inequitable, but because of the need to reduce public expenditure, so I cannot give the kind of assurance sought in the hon. Gentleman's question.