HC Deb 29 January 1981 vol 997 c502W
36. Mr. Jay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums, gross and net, respectively, the United Kingdom has paid into the European Economic Community budget to date in the United Kingdom financial year 1980–81.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

In the period from 1 April to 30 November 1980 gross payments by the United Kingdom to the Community budget amounted to £1,232 million; the net payment in the same period amounted to £658 million.

Payments by the United Kingdom to the Community budget in the financial year as a whole will be substantially reduced by the operation of the agreement reached on 30 May 1980.

42. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount the payments by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community since 1973 have exceeded the amount which the United Kingdom has received in grants and subsidies from the European Economic Community.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

In the period from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1979 payments by the United Kingdom to the Community budget have exceeded receipts by £2,364 million. It was because it recognised the United Kingdom's net payments constituted an unacceptable situation that the Community agreed, on 30 May 1980, to the settlement reducing our contributions to the budget.