§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total payments by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community budget in each year since 1973; and, expressed as percentages, what increases or decreases the payments represent.
§ Mr. Lawson[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1981]: The following tables give the net payments by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community budget for each year from 1973 to 1979 and, where applicable, the percentage change:
Year Net Contribution Percentage Change 1973 102 — 1974 31 -69.61 per cent. 1975 -56 — 1976 167 — 1977 369 +120.96 per cent. 1978 804 +117.89 per cent. 1979 947 +17.78 per cent. As regards the United Kingdom 1980 net contribution to the Community budget, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) on 15 January.