HC Deb 26 January 1981 vol 997 cc323-4W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he win set out for each of the last five years the sources and amounts by source of EEC borrowing.

Mr. Lawson

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1981, c. 656]: Total borrowing by the European Economic Community for each of the last five years is as follows:

£ million
1976 654
1977 308
1978
1979 112
1980 152

The figures comprise borrowing by the Community under the Community loan mechanism for lending to member States in balance of payments difficulties and under the new Community instrument for lending to investment projects within the Community. The money was raised in the international capital markets in dollars and a variety of European currencies.

The figures have been taken from the draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1981, and the amounts have been expressed in sterling using exchange rates as at 1 February 1980 (the date used in the draft budget).

The figures do not include borrowing by other European bodies such as the European Investment Bank, Euratom, and the European Coal and Steel Community. Further information about borrowing by the European Economic Community and other bodies is given in the draft general budget.