HC Deb 31 October 1983 vol 47 c259W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government were consulted by the Common Market Commission when the Commission decided to seek a 17.82 per cent. increase in its commitment appropriations for the year 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moore

Under article 203 of the Treaty of Rome, the Commission makes proposals to the Council of Ministers on its own responsibility in a preliminary draft budget (PDB). The PDB for 1984 was amended by the Budget Council when it established a draft budget on 22 July. In this draft the increase in commitments was reduced to 9.3 per cent. Her Majesty's Government were represented at the Council by my right hon. Friend the former Financial Secretary, who reported to the House on 25 July—[Vol. 46, c. 788–795.]

The adoption of a supplementary and amending budget No. 2 for 1983 means that commitments in the draft budget for 1984 are slightly less than estimated for 1983.