HC Deb 11 June 1980 vol 986 cc177-8W
33. Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Prime Minister whether she will give an undertaking that Her Majesty's Government have not and will not agree to lift the present ceiling on revenue from value added tax under the own resources formula of the European Economic Community.

The Prime Minister

We are determined to ensure that the 1 per cent. ceiling is not breached. The Foreign Affairs Council recently reaffirmed the conclusion, adopted by Community Finance Ministers in February, that the growth of agricultural expenditure should be considerably reduced so as to keep total spending within the ceiling.