§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons why United Kingdom contributions to the EC budget are expected to increase from £0.9 billion in 1991–92 to £2.2 billion in 1992–93.
§ Mr. MaudeThe autumn statement provided a forecast of the UK's net payments to EC institutions of £0.9 billion 505W in 1991–92 and £2.5 billion in 1992–93. The uneven profile results from the timing of adjustments to UK contributions, mainly because contributions are paid on the basis of agreed estimates and adjusted in the light of outturn, and from subsequent correction to the UK's abatement. The net contribution in 1991–92 is unusually low as the result of a refund in 1991 of contributions overpaid in 1990 and higher than usual abatement in 1991, reflecting adjustments paid in 1990 to make good underpayments in the previous year.