§ Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums have been paid to the United Kingdom under the 30 May agreement; and if he will give a regional breakdown of the money received, and committed but still to be received.
§ Mr. RidleyAs a result of the budget agreement of 30 May 1980, the United Kingdom has so far received gross payments totalling £1,612.2 million in respect of commitments totalling £1,702.6 million. These sums have been granted in the form of Community contributions under the supplementary measures scheme to public sector investment programmes principally in the United 13W Kingdom's assisted areas. The regional breakdown of grant commitments, receipts and amounts outstanding are given in the following table.
Community contributions in respect of UK public sector investment programmes £ million Northern England North-West England South-West England Yorkshire and Humberside Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Other Trunk Roads Programme Total Grant commitments 158.7 320.8 45.5 259.2 283.7 219.9 203.2 211.6 1,702.6 Receipts to date 150.9 302.1 43.2 245.4 268.2 209.7 192.0 200.7 1,612.2 Amounts outstanding 7.9 18.7 2.3 13.8 15.5 10.2 11.2 10.9 90.4 In addition to the amounts already committed, the United Kingdom expects to receive further support under the supplementary measures regulation amounting to some £100 million. This represents the balance of the United Kingdom's estimated entitlement to refunds in respect of its net contribution to the 1981 budget. Since commitments under the supplementary measures regulation are denominated in European currency units, the precise sterling value of payments still to be received will depend on the exchange rate prevailing at the time of payment.
For further information about the operation of the supplementary measures scheme, I refer my hon. Friend to the replies that I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) and Banff (Mr. Myles) on 22 December and 25 March, respectively. —[Vol. 15, c. 390–94, and Vol. 20, c. 395–97.]