§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on increases in the costs of(a) the European Union Commission, (b) the EU Country Auditors and (c) the European Court, since 1990; and what are their estimated costs in 1996. [26317]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI have been asked to reply.
I presume my hon. Friend refers to the cost of the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors and the European Court of Justice. The information is provided in the table:
Costs of the European Commission, European Court of Auditors and the European Court of Justice 1990 (ecu) 1996 (ecu) Average annual growth (Per cent.) European Commission 1,505.0 2,696.7 10.3 European Court of Auditors 53.4 56.2 3.1 European Court of Justice 66.9 169.7 17.7 Notes:
- 1. The figures for 1990 are outturn figures and have been taken from the 1990 European Court of Auditors report. The figures for 1996 are taken from the adopted European Community Budget.
300 - 2. The calculation of average annual growth has been based on the outturn for 1990–94 as shown in the relevant European Court of Auditors reports, and planned expenditure for 1995 and 1996 taken from the adopted European Community Budgets for those years.
§ Mr. MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost of the Agriculture Directorate General for 1996; and what is the cost of the Agriculture Commissioner's cabinet. [26316]
Mr. Heathcote-AmoryI have been asked to reply.
I am afraid the 1996 EC budget does not show the information requested. I suggest that my hon. Friend contacts the European Commission direct.