HC Deb 16 February 1988 vol 127 c567W
Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rebate from the whole European Economic Community budget has been obtained for the years 1986 and 1987.

Mr. Brooke

The United Kingdom's payments to and receipts from the European Community budget in 1986 gave rise to an abatement of its VAT contributions in 1987 of 1,633 million ecu (some £1,150 million). The preliminary draft budget for 1988 provides for an upward correction of 244 million ecu (£170 million) to the abatement in respect of 1986, and for an abatement of 2,269 million ecu (£1,580 million) in respect of 1987.