§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if Her Majesty's Government were consulted by the European Economic Commission on the decision of the Common Market to allocate $500,000 for the filming of a Common Market variety show led by Miss Brigitte Bardot in Brussels on 5 May; and what part of this expenditure will be borne by United Kingdom contributions;
(2) if Her Majesty's Government were consulted by the European Economic Community Commission on its decision to allocate funds for a Common Market cartoon series; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Commission's contribution to the total cost of both the variety show and cartoon series comes from 12 million ecu in the 1984 Community budget for expenditure on information, publicity and participation in public events. The Commission is responsible for how this money is spent and is not required to consult member states.
I understand that the cartoon series consists of 15 two and a half minute films costing 386,000 ecu of which the Commission's contribution is 259,000 ecu. The total cost of the variety show is 936,000 ecu of which the Commission's contribution is 579,000 ecu. The balance in both cases has been provided by production companies which will recoup the cost by selling the shows to television companies throughout the Community. The United Kingdom's share of the Community contribution is about 20 per cent. Our information is that Mlle Bardot will not appear in the show.