§ Mr. Butterfillasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the payment of March non-value added tax own resources to the European Communities.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIn accordance with article 10(2) of Council Regulation 2891/77 the Commission has invited member states to pay on 22 April instead of 20 May non-VAT own resources collected in March. These own resources consist of agricultural, sugar and isoglucose levies and customs duties. The Government are complying with this request.
An amount not exceeding £83 million will be paid on 22 April; the payment of levies and duties on 20 May 1985, which is made under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, will be reduced by an appropriate amount. There will therefore be no net addition to public expenditure.