§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what forecast the Government have made for the United Kingdom's net contribution per annum to the EC budget in each of the next seven years arising from the Government's current EC budget proposal to the EC Council;
(2) if he will make a statement on the reasons for proposed increases in the EC budget as a proportion of EC gross domestic product;
(3) what benefit he assesses will accrue to the United Kingdom from an expansion in the EC budget.
§ Sir John Cope[holding answer 7 December 1992]: The United Kingdom presidency tabled on 25 November a compromise proposal for negotiations on the future financing of the European Community; a copy has been placed in the Library. The implied annual addition to the United Kingdom's net public sector contribution arising from this proposal would be some £150 million in 1999 (at 1992 prices) above the forecast underlying cost of Community spending given the present ceiling on own resources, which would rise to £2,800 million in 1999 (at 1992 prices). The Government's aim is to achieve a settlement at Edinburgh which is affordable and consistent with the principles of budget discipline and sound public finance. Achieving agreement will assist progress on other issues, in particular enlargement.