HC Deb 19 February 1981 vol 999 cc227-8W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the additional levies raised and gross payments made to the European Economic Community, in consequence of the decision of the Government to operate a positive green pound, will be treated as part of the total gross contribution of the United Kingdom which falls to be refunded in total if it exceeds the United Kingdom's share of Community gross domestic product in terms of the agreement of 30 May as set out in the Lord Privy Seal's answer on 27 October 1980, Official Report, c. 96–99;

(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Southend, East on 12 February, whether the additional gross contributions made to the European Economic Community in consequence of the decision of Her Majesty's Government to operate a positive green pound will be refunded to the United Kingdom under the mechanism agreed at the Council of Ministers on 30 May 1980 only if the United Kingdom's total gross contributions actually exceed the United Kingdom's share of Community gross domestic product; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The effects of the level of the green pound on our payments to and receipts from the Community budget in 1980 and 1981 are among the factors affecting the size of our net contribution to the Community budget in each of these years before this is adjusted under the Council agreement of 30 May 1980. To the extent that the application of positive monetary compensatory amounts increases our share of gross budgetary contributions in 1980 and 1981 this will increase the amount we receive under the amended financial mechanism, which refunds to us the excess in our share of gross budgetary contributions over our share of Community GDP. The difference between our net receipts under the amended financial mechanism and the total level of refunds required under the Council agreement of 30 May will of course be made up under the supplementary measures regulation as explained by the Lord Privy Seal in his answer of 27 October 1980.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the additional gross payments which were made to the European Economic Community in the year 1980 in consequence of the decision of Her Majesty's Government to operate a positive green pound.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Monetary compensatory amounts charged on United Kingdom imports from other Community countries totalled about £41.5 million in 1980. MCAs charged on our imports from outside the Community are likely to have been rather less than half this amount, but a precise estimate cannot be made except at disproportionate cost.