HC Deb 02 March 1981 vol 1000 cc21-3W
Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments into the European Economic Community was for each financial year from 1 January 1973; how much was Northern Ireland's share of the receipts; how much of these receipts each year represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

Mr. Alison

It is not possible to determine in total how much of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Community can be attributed to Northern Ireland nor the full extent of receipts from the Community.

the public sector; how much represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much each year was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

Mr. Adam Butler

During the period 1 January 1973 to date the following amounts were received by Northern Ireland under the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF).

For those areas where receipts can be identified and where a notional attribution of part of Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments has been made the latest figures are as follows:

identified Receipts £m Attributed Share (part)*£m
1973–74 — 1. 0
(one quarter)
1974–75 3.4 5.6
19755–76 3.4 7.9
1976–77 15.8 12.7
1977–78 15.5 16.6
1978–79 19.9 34.8
1979–80 34.2 30.1
1980–81 44.3 58.0†
(to date)
*Source: Northern Ireland Financial Statements.
† This is a provisional figure.

The nature of the operation of the various Community funds means that only limited information on receipts is available. It is not possible therefore to identify the amounts which represent a straight addition to money otherwise available to the recipients. Certain Community receipts are retained by the Government, but these are taken into account when the Government are determining the appropriate level of public expenditure in the United Kingdom as a whole for any year. In effect therefore Community receipts enable public expenditure in the United Kingdom, and hence in Northern Ireland, to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible.