§ Mr. Dubsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the Contingency Reserve for the present financial year has so far been spent; and what proportion of the total this represents.
§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the public expenditure Contingency Reserve for 1982–83 has been committed; how much is in the process of being committed; if he will list the individual items of expenditure in both cases; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1982]: Agreed claims totalling £250 million have so far been debited against the Contingency Reserve. This represents just over 10 per cent. of the total reserve of £2,400 million announced in the Budget. These are detailed as follows. Further bids will be considered on their merits.
£ million *Restoration of 2 per cent. shortfall on unpledged social security benefits 65 *Supplementary benefit—increase in capital disregard 3 *Supplementary benefit—heating additions 5 *New employment measure 25 *Industrial innovation 20 †Increase in National Coal Board EFL 37 NHS pay 83 Housing benefit: local authority start-up costs 5 International Conference Centre 6 Minor claims 1
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Table 1: Estimated Net Contributions to the 1980 Allocated Budget million ecus* Receipts Payments Net EAGGF† Guarantee Guidance Regional Development Fund Social Fund Others Total Belgium 572 8 3 10 560 1,153 920 233 Denmark 615 6 4 14 22 661 334 327 Germany 2,455 62 27 73 300 2,917 4,443 -1,526 France 2,832 76 53 165 183 3,309 2,878 431 Ireland 564 25 52 63 79 784 134 650 Italy 1,824 62 117 205 394 2,602 1,865 737 Luxembourg 12 0 1 0 212 225 19 206 Netherlands 1,539 24 6 9 109 1,687 1,233 454 United Kingdom 881 52 134 161 322 1,550 3,062 -1,512 * European Currency Units; 1980 average exchange rate: leua=£0.598488 † Excluding fisheries * Announced in the Budget.
† Of which £7 million announced in the Budget