asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what means Her Majesty's Government make comments and press for changes in the EEC draft budget; what representations were made in connection with the budget for 1975; and with what result.

Before the Council of Ministers establishes the draft budget the preliminary draft budget is discussed in detail at official level in various committees of the Council prior to being considered by the Budget Council. The United Kingdom representatives played an active part in these discussions, which resulted this year in a reduction of almost £500 million in the expenditure proposed in the preliminary draft budget.