§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards the British rebate in the EU budget negotiations. [72908]
§ Ms HewittDespite the abatement, the UK remains a significantly larger net contributor to the EC than a number of other member states whose capacity to pay is greater. In these circumstances weakening the abatement would be unfair. The UK has made clear in the current Agenda 2000 negotiations that it would not accept any such unfair outcome.