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EU Budget Contributions
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net contribution to the EEC by the United Kingdom for each year from 1990 and up to 2001; and what estimate he has made of the respective contribution made by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EU countries in this period. [1028]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The Government's most recent estimates of the United Kingdom's net contributions to European Community institutions for the financial years 1989-90 to 1994-95, together with the forecast of our contributions up to 1998-99 are set out in the first table. Recent estimates for later years are not available; the Government do not produce such estimates on a regular basis since they are of limited value and need to be treated with particular caution.
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| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1989-90 | 2,452 |
| 1990-91 | 2,185 |
| 1991-92 | 943 |
| 1992-93 | 2,168 |
| 1993-94 | 2,192 |
| 1994-95 | 1,641 |
| 1995-96 | 3,512 |
| 1996-97 | 2,894 |
| 1997-98 | 3,119 |
| 1998-99 | 3,197 |
| Year | Belgium | Denmark | Germany | Greece | Spain | France | Ireland | Italy | Luxembourg | Netherlands | Portugal | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 773.9 | -422.5 | 5,550.4 | -2,470.2 | -1,711.3 | 1,840.9 | -1,892.5 | 416.7 | 60.0 | -368.4 | -600.8 | 3,386.9 |
| 1991 | -416.6 | -346.3 | 8,796.8 | -2,926.4 | -2,294.6 | 2,449.5 | -2,357.3 | 1,388.6 | -159.7 | 537.9 | -1,516.2 | 666.9 |
| 1992 | -165.1 | -276.6 | 9,697.6 | -3,604.0 | -2,739.6 | 1,443.6 | -2,140.1 | 504.3 | -164.0 | 829.0 | -2,139.9 | 2.387.8 |
| 1993 | -59.6 | -376.9 | 11,830.3 | -4,136.7 | -3,090.4 | 1,019.6 | -2,371.9 | 1,525.4 | -189.6 | 1,326.6 | -2,508.4 | 3,125.8 |
| 1994 | 309.3 | -198.9 | 13,637.1 | -3,851.9 | -3,116.6 | 2,626.4 | -1,752.0 | 2,540.4 | -253.7 | 1,829.9 | -1,827.0 | 1,158.8 |
Note: Administration costs are not fully allocated by member states in the Court of Auditors report. Allocation of administrative spending would be likely to increase the receipts of member states, but particularly for Belgium and Luxembourg, and so reduce the member states' net contributions.
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Public Duties (Tax Relief)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the individuals for whom exceptional arrangements beyond those indicated in the "Inland Revenue Guide to Benefits and Expenses", booklet 480, applies in connection with their public duties and those of their spouse; how, and under what authority, the additional allowances are arrived at; and if he will make a statement; [331]
(2) if he will list the tax deductions and reliefs in connection with public duties of a taxpayer or of his or her spouse contained in the "Inland Revenue Guide to Benefits and Expenses", booklet 480; and what limit applies to each. [330]
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Mr. Jack: The statutory provisions covering tax deductions and reliefs set out in the "Inland Revenue Guide to Benefits and Expenses", booklet 480, apply to employees and officeholders with public duties as much as to others. Section 10 of the booklet explains how expenses incurred by a spouse are treated. There are also statutory provisions to make sure that Members of Parliament qualify for relief on extra expenses they incur in staying overnight away from their only or main home for the purpose of carrying out their duties as Members and on the cost of making trips to certain institutions in the European Union.
Self-assessment (Small Businesses)
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of hours per
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week on average that small businesses will spend on the requirements of the new system of tax self-assessment. [3691]
Mr. Jack: The Inland Revenue undertook very extensive research into the likely impact of the self- assessment changes on the costs to businesses, particularly small businesses, of complying with their tax obligations. The detail of this research is contained in a compliance cost assessment which was published on 29 November 1994. A copy is available in the House Library. It concludes that once the new system has bedded in, costs overall will reduce. The amount will vary from business to business, but it broadly equates with annual savings overall of £125 million to £250 million, after taking account of employer's costs, or between £30 and £60 per year for a typical small business.
Financial Statement and Budget Report
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations led to the inclusion of fewer statistics in table 4.4 of the "Financial Statement and Budget report 1996-97", than in the equivalent table 4A.1 for 1995-96. [3841]
Mr. Waldegrave: In terms of their coverage, both tables 4.4 and 4A.1 of this year's "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are unchanged from the presentation last year. Table 4.4 gives a summary presentation of the forecast of general Government receipts; table 4A.1 gives a more detailed exposition of the short-term forecast of receipts.
Ecofin
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Ecofin Council held on 27 November, giving details of all votes and of all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [1973]
Mr. Kenneth Clarke [holding answer 4 December 1995]: I represented the United Kingdom at the Economic and Finance Council of the European Union in Brussels on 27 November.
The only formal vote taken by the Council was a unanimous decision to adopt a regulation on the European system national and regional accounts, which will come into effect in 1999. The Council agreed to attach to the regulation a recommendation that where data was available member states should provide them from September 1998.
There was no Council support for a request by Germany that the Commission produce a study on the use of a reduced rate of VAT on the sale of agricultural produce as a means of compensating farmers affected by revaluations in the agri-monetary system.
All other issues at the Council were agreed without dissension.
The Council agreed the following: a report on the implementation of the broad economic guidelines; procedural conclusions on the reports by member states on measures being taken to combat fraud against Community funds; and a draft report on employment,
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jointly prepared by the Economic and Finance Council, the Social Affairs Council and the Commission. All these will be submitted to the Madrid European Council.
The Council discussed the reference scenario for the transition to a single currency, on which the Council will also report to the Madrid European Council. The Council agreed on the principle that fiscal stability after the beginning of the third stage of economic and monetary union was essential and that further work on achieving this will be required.
The Council discussed the arrangements for guaranteeing European investment bank loans to third world countries. The Council agreed that a decision to revise the guarantee system will be taken within twelve months following an EIB--Commission study. During the interim period current guarantee arrangements will continue.
The Council considered the recent defaults, by Georgia, Armenia and Tajikistan on EU loans granted in 1991 as part of a humanitarian aid package to the former Soviet Union. The Council asked the Commission to produce proposals for a grant aid operation from Community funds to resolve this problem.
The Council welcomed progress made by the Commission on an initiative to improve its financial management and working practices.
The Commission also presented the conclusions of a study into the effect of currency fluctuations on the internal market.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all those in his Department who have authority to issue public interest immunity certificates; how many such certificates have been issued in each of the last five years; and what were the main reasons for them. [1431]
Mr. Hanley:
A claim to public interest immunity relating to departmental documents or information is normally made by the appropriate Minister. There have been four cases in which certificates were used inter partes in proceedings:
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(a) Two certificates signed the then Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd), in June 1991 and January 1992, in respect of a case of unfair dismissal brought in an industrial tribunal by a former FCO member of staff;
(b) Two certificates, signed in September 1992 by the then Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones) relating to the Matrix Churchill prosecution;
(c) Two certificates, signed by the then Minister of State, the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. Maude) in June 1990 and by the then Minister of State, Lord Caithness, in February 1992, concerning the case of the extradition of Lorrain Osman to Hong Kong; and
(d) One certificate, signed by the then Foreign Secretary the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) in May 1995, in connection with the Ord-Tec appeal.
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