§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount paid by way of value added tax on defence procurement in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how much of this sum was paid over to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. PymThe net total of value added tax paid by the Ministry of Defence in respect of goods and services procured in 1978–79 was about £183 million. The information requested in the second part of my hon. Friend's question does not fall within the responsibility of my Department, but I understand that there is no direct relationship between individual payments of VAT and payments of own resources to the European Economic Community.