HC Deb 29 November 1983 vol 49 cc457-8W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of value added tax contributions made to the own resources of the EC from each member state in the most recent year for which figures are available; what were the comparable figures for each of the previous five years; and if he is satisfied with the present procedures for assessing this particular part of the Common Market's own resources.

Mr. Ian Stewart

The European Community's own resources contributions by way of value added tax have been collected only from 1 January 1979 from all member states except Germany, Luxembourg and Ireland. These three member states passed the necessary domestic legislation by 1 January 1980 and paid VAT own resources from that date. Greece has not yet passed the necessary legislation and continues topay financial contributions based on its GDP share.

The figures for own resources payments by way of VAT are set out in the following table, in millions of European currency units—MECU.

I am generally satisfied with the present procedures for assessing VAT own resources.

MECU
1979 1980 1981 1982
Belgium 329.6 317.0 374.6 468.0
Denmark 183.9 189.9 212.3 244.5
Germany 2,286.7 2,759.3 3,347.1
France 1,720.4 1,723.1 2,236.0 2,914.8
Ireland 62.1 70.9 92.4
Italy 747.7 789.1 1,333.8 1,592.2
Luxembourg 14.6 20.7 22.0
Netherlands 453.6 438.5 494.9 638.6
United Kingdom 1,302.6 1,272.4 1,685.2 2,680.7

Source: Accounts of the European Commission

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