§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to use the 1998–99 Contingency Reserve in order to accommodate a higher than expected United Kingdom net contribution to the European Community Budget in 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [14521]
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§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 10 November 1997]: Should the UK's net contribution in 1998–99 turn out to be higher than in published public expenditure plans, the additional expenditure would fall to be met from the Reserve. There is, however, no reason to suppose that the estimates made by the previous Government will be insufficient.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he will be able to publish a revised estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community Budget for 1998; if he will update the figures for United Kingdom expenditure on the European Communities for 1998–99 as set down in the Financial statement and Budget report 1997–98, page 123, Table 5.A.4; and if he will make a statement. [14520]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 10 November 1997]: An estimate for the UK's net contribution to the 1998 European Community Budget will, as usual, be included in the annual White Paper on the EC Budget. The Government hopes to publish the White Paper on the 1998 Budget in the Spring of next year. A revised Treasury forecast for the UK's net contribution in respect of the financial year 1998–99 will be included in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", and also the "Departmental Report of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's smaller Departments", both of which are expected to be published in March next year.