§ Mr. Peter ShoreTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his circular letter to hon. Members of 11 November, what was his estimate of the United Kingdom's gross payment to the EC in 1999; what was his estimate of the average annual growth of United Kingdom gross domestic product between 1995–96 and 1999; and what was his estimate of annual average growth of community gross domestic product in the same period.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 25 November 1994]: The United Kingdom's gross contribution to the European Community after abatement is expected to be £8,660 million by 1999–2000. These long-term estimates are inevitably speculative as they go considerably beyond the period covered by OECD estimates which were used in the table contained in my answer on 23 November to a question from the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks), Official Report, columns 155–58.
The average annual growth rate assumptions used in making this forecast are consistent with the assumptions which will be announced in the Budget.