HC Deb 23 January 1981 vol 997 c248W
Mr. Leighton

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will reconsider their attitude to the action taken by the EEC Assembly on the budget and join with the majority of the EEC member States in limiting the United Kingdom contribution to one-twelfth of what was agreed by the Council of Ministers.

The Prime Minister

No. The Government see no good reason to challenge the view of the Commission, which is shared by six other member States, that the Community budget for 1981 and the supplementary budget No. 2 for 1980 were adopted legally.

Mr. Leighton

asked the Prime Minister whether she considers the action of the President of the EEC Assembly in declaring an enlarged budget for 1980 and 1981, adopted contrary to the wishes of one or more member States, was either "advisory" or "supervisory" within article 137 of the Treaty of Rome.

The Prime Minister

The President of the European Parliament exercised the powers conferred on her by article 203 of the European Community Treaty. We see no reason to believe that the budgets were not validly adopted.