§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the payments and receipts for 1981 in respect of the European Economic Community 123W which resulted in the United Kingdom being net beneficiaries of European Economic Community funds; and if, in particular, he will specify the dates of the refunds made in pursuance of the February 1980 agreements and the year in respect of which the rebates were paid.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 4 May 1982, c. 36]: Estimates of United Kingdom payments and receipts in respect of the 1981 EEC budget are shown in the following table:
£ million (receipts +, contributions -) Gross contributions to allocated budget -1859 Receipts from allocated budget: CAP guarantee +604 CAP guidance +60 Regional Development Fund +142 Social Fund +94 Other +175 Total +1075 Net refunds entitlement under 30 May 1980 agreement +778 Net contribution to allocated budget -6 Net contribution to unallocated budget -82 Total net contribution -88 Source:
Commission estimates for allocated budget; UK estimates for unallocated budget.
Notes:
The allocated budget comprises those parts of the budget which the Commission are able to allocate between member states. The unallocated budget comprises other expenditure (eg on everseas aid).
The estimates in the table have been converted at an exchange rate of £1 =1.813 ecu (European Community unit), the average rate for 1981.
Two payments of gross refunds in pursuance of the 30 May 1980 agreement in respect of 1981 have been received: £750 million on 29 March 1982 and £63 million on 31 March 1982. We are due to receive further gross refunds totalling some £194 million in respect of 1981.