§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purpose of a memorandum entry on the expenditure side of the draft EEC budget for 1985; and if it is intended that the amount of 1,315 million European currency units for agricultural expenditure mentioned in his answer on 5 December 1984 will be spent in 1985.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe purpose was to reaffirm the commitment given by the Council of Ministers in October that the inescapable agricultural overrun in 1985 would be provided for when there was a legal basis for a budget which included it.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the EEC Council of Finance Ministers, in setting the reference framework for budget expenditure, will have recommendations on this topic from other bodies in the EEC before making a decision.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Commission has agreed to provide the necessary information to enable the Council to fix the reference framework. The Council has undertaken to invite a delegation from the European Parliament to meet it before decisions on the reference framework are taken.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EEC body will be responsible for preparing background information and recommendations for the Council of Finance Ministers before it sets the reference framework for the EEC budget.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Commission is the relevant Community body.