§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the most up-to-date figures for the United Kingdom contribution to the EEC budget in each year from 1975 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1985 prices.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1986, c. 605]: The information requested is set out in the table. The figure of £1,871 million for 1985 compares with the estimate of £1,212 million given in my reply to the hon. Member on 11 December 1985 at column 653. The figure of £1,871 million is an outturn figure. The main reason why it is higher than the earlier estimate is that most (£493 million) of the 1,000 mecu (£605 million) abatement payable in respect of our excessive net contribution to the 1984 Community budget was received in the first few days of 1986 rather than in December 1985, as assumed in the earlier answer. Further information on the 1985 outturn is contained in my answer of 3 March 1986 at columns 31–2 to the hon. Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden).
Net contribution to the EEC Budget Current prices 1985 prices 1975 -56 -155 1976 167 402 1977 369 780 1978 822 1,561 1979 947 1,571 1980 706 977 1981 397 491 1982 606 698 1983 647 709 1984 656 689 1985 1,871 1,871