To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the calculations for United Kingdom payments to the own resources element of funding of the European Community value added tax-related payments for 1991 and give (a) the expected total yield of value added tax for the 12 months of 1991, (b) the amount payable to the European Community consequent on the calculation and (c) the sum (b) as a percentage of the sum (a).

[holding answer 13 January 1992]: Final accounting data for the calendar year 1991 have not yet been produced but payments have been made monthly based on estimates. Using current estimates the United Kingdom's net VAT yield and VAT-based contribution to the European Community are calculated to be:

(a) net VAT yield for the calendar year 1991—£35,796 million;

(b) amount paid to the European Community, net of the United Kingdom abatement—£771 million;

(c) net contribution as a proportion of VAT receipts —2·2 per cent.

The 1991 United Kingdom abatement, referred to above and made under the terms of article 4 of Council decision 88/376 dated 24 June 1988, amounts to £2,497 million.