§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the increase in the United Kingdom's net contribution if the EC budget is increased under the Delors proposals by each multiple of £1,000 million up to £25,000 million;
(2) what is his estimate of the net cost to the United Kingdom of the cohesion fund as proposed by the Commission for each of the years 1993 to 1997; and if he will make a statement on the expected benefits to the United Kingdom of agreeing to such a proposal.
§ Sir John Cope[holding answer 11 December 1992]: The European Council at Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December agreed a financing package for the Community for the next seven years, including the cohesion fund: this would allow an EC budget at a level of £62 billion in 1999, at 1992 prices. A copy of the conclusions of the European Council, including the details of the package, has been placed in the Library. The forecast annual addition to the United Kingdom's net public sector contribution arising from this package would be some £200 million, in 1999, above the underlying cost of Community spending given the present ceiling on own resources, estimated at £2,800 million in 1999, all at 1992 prices. The agreement on the Community's finances at Edinburgh made possible agreements on other important issues such as subsidiarity, openness, resolution of Danish difficulties with the Maastricht treaty, a package of measures to promote European economic growth, and the enlargement of the Community.