§ Mr. Ian TaylorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans she has to withdraw the case against the European Commission challenging the Commission's funding of research projects on the budget line B3–4104; [38333]
(2) what contingency plans the Government have for alternative funding of UK research projects on which the European Commission has signed agreement but not made any payments, if the judgment by the European Court of Justice is not in the European Commission's favour; [38334]
(3) when the European Court of Justice is expected to give its final judgment with regards to the court case between the Government and the European Commission on funding of research projects on the budget line B3–4104. [38335]
§ Mr. MilburnI have been asked to reply.
I believe the hon. Member is referring to the case brought by the United Kingdom to the European Court of Justice in July 1996 challenging spending by the European Commission under budget line B3–4104 on "Measures to assist the elderly 1996".
The European Court of Justice is not expected to give its final judgment in this case for many months. The Government announced their decision to maintain the challenge in a written reply from my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for 73W East Ham (Mr. Timms), on 4 November 1997, Official Report, column 103. The reason for the Government's decision to persist with the legal challenge was explained in that earlier reply. We do not intend to withdraw the challenge and have no contingency plans for alternative funding of United Kingdom projects on which the European Commission has signed funding agreements but not made payments if the European Court of Justice rules against the Commission.