HC Deb 10 March 1980 vol 980 cc451-3W
Mr. Woodall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated direct and indirect increase in public revenue, including national insurance con-

each, amounting to £100 million or more, together with the expected net contribution, for each year.

Mr. Lawson

[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1980, c. 210]. The United Kingdom's gross contributions to the Community budget in 1978 and 1979, consisting of levies, customs duties and VAT, were reduced by refunds under Article 131 of the Treaty of Accession. The reduced gross contributions, and also net contributions, for these years are quoted in my separate answer of today to the hon. Member. The unreduced own resources gross contributions, and the breakdown into the three constituent categories, are as follows:

£ million
1978 1979
Gross contribution of which: 1,553 1,958
Levies 243 246
Customs duties 714 868
Value added tax 596 8.14

A forecast of the gross United Kingdom contribution in 1980 will be published in the forthcoming public expenditure White Paper.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the Official Report the actual or expected gross and net contributions of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community for each of the years 1973 to 1980, together with his estimates of the upper and lower amounts for the year 1981.

Mr. Lawson

[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1980 c. 210]. The United Kingdom's gross contributions to the Community budget, and net contributions after allowing for public sector receipts, from 1973 to 1979 have been as follows:

tributions, resulting from the employment of one unemployed person, and the estimated saving in unemployment and other social security payments.

Mr. Biffen

[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1980 c. 144]: In order to estimate the direct and indirect increases in revenue and any estimated savings in public expenditure that would result from the employment of one individual, it would be necessary to state a whole series of assumptions about his employment income and family circumstances. For an illustration of this point, the hon. Member may wish to refer to the reply given by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) on 18 January—[Vol. 976, c. 893–894.]