§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 3 April (WA 109) on contributions to the European Community's own resources, and the statement that figures for the year 2000 are not yet available and that the Government do not "forecast the contribution of other member states", what was the basis for the Prime Minister's statement to the House of Commons (H.C. Deb., 11 December, col. 349) that by 2006 Britain would be making a "net contribution roughly equivalent to France and Italy for the first time in our membership". [HL1650]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyAs I explained to the noble Lord in my reply on 3 April, the Government do not forecast the contribution of other member states on an annual basis. However, estimates have been produced for the net contribution of France and Italy in 2006. These are based on the assumption of only six new member states, and are at 1999 prices, and indicate that the net contribution of France will be around 5 per cent of the EC Budget and that of Italy 5WA around 4 per cent. Based on the same assumptions, the United Kingdom's net contribution in 2006 would be around 5 per cent.