§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the relationship of the £30.1 million quoted as Northern Ireland's contribution to the EEC for 1979–80, Official Report volume 977, column 769, to the forecast of £45.8 million given in the financial statement of the Department of Finance for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. RossiThe hon. Gentleman appears to have given a wrong reference but I assume that he is referring to the figure of £30.1 million quoted in my reply of 3 April. [Vol. 982, c.372.]
The figures quoted in the Northern Ireland Financial Statement represent the share of the United Kingdom payment to the European Communities attributed to Northern Ireland under The Northern Ireland (Share of United Kingdom Taxes) regulation 1975 (1975 No. 1313). The figure of £30.1 million, which is still provisional, is the result of a recalculation on a revised interpretation of the regulation. Previous years are not affected.