HC Deb 16 March 1983 vol 39 cc162-3W
Mr. Dorrell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council of 14 and 15 March.

Mr. Pym

The Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 14 March. I represented the United Kingdom, and my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade was present for the discussions on trade items.

There was a ministerial negotiating conference on 15 March with Portugal. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State represented the United Kingdom at this, and at the subsequent meeting of Ministers to discuss the Genscher-Colombo proposals.

I am pleased to report that the Council reached agreement on the two regulations which provided the legal base for paying the refunds amounting to £568 million for 1982. As a result we are on course to receive payment by the end of this month. Ministers also had a full and valuable discussion of the future financing of the Community and the budgetary problems. I stressed the need for rapid progress. The subject will be discussed further at next week's European Council on the basis of a report from the presidency and the Commission.

The Commission reported to the Council on the Spanish Government's welcome move in relation to problems which have arisen concerning the implementation of the 1970 EC-Spain agreement and the imbalance of trading opportunities arising under it. This is the subject of a separate answer by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade.

The Council had a further discussion of the question of extending the franchise for the 1984 European elections. No agreement was reached, but Foreign Ministers will consider the question again in the margins of the European Council.

New regulations for energy demonstration projects up to 31 December 1983 were agreed by Ministers. There was also agreement on a draft mandate for the Community to participate in the negotiations for a new international sugar agreement and on reconstruction aid to the Lebanon for a water supply project in Damour near Beirut.

Ministers took note of the presidency's report on the state of work on Greenland's application to withdraw from the Community and called for a more detailed report in time for discussion at the April Council.

Married man with two children
Average manual earnings Income tax NIC* Net income† £ per week Real net income* (at 1979–80 prices)
1979–80 101.10 19.14 6.57 83.39 83.39
1980–81 117.60 22.90 7.94 95.31 81.94
1981–82 128.60 26.20 9.97 102.30 78.89
1982–83‡ 140.2 27.95 12.27 110.92 79.79
* National insurance contributions are at the not contracted-out rate.
† After income tax, NIC and child benefit.
‡ Provisional.

Real net income has been calculated by reference to movements in the general index of retail prices.

Average manual earnings for financial years are calculated from monthly estimates derived by interpolating between the new earnings survey results for successive Aprils by reference to movements in the average earnings index—whole economy.