To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net benefit to the United Kingdom at today's prices in each year as a result of the budget rebate of 1984. [11234]

[holding answer 29 July 1997]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the abatement agreed at Fontainebleau. The table sets out the information requested.

	Value of UK's abatement, in current prices(£million)
1985–86	1,346
1986–87	2,131
1987–88	1,713
1988–89	2,260
1989–90	1,739
1990–91	2,247
1991–92	2,791

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the net level of United Kingdom contributions to the European Community for (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement; [11306](2) if he will update the figure for the estimated net United Kingdom contribution to the European Community budget for 1998–99, in table 5A.4, page 123, of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98", incorporating the impact of developments at the European Union budget negotiations on 24 July; and if he will make a statement. [11612]

[holding answer 29 July 1997]: The Government's expenditure plans take account of the plans of the previous Government for the forecast of the trend in the United Kingdom's net contributions to the European Community budget; as published in the previous Chancellor's departmental report on his smaller departments, Cm 3617. The forecasts are as follows:

• 1997–98:£2,750 million
• 1998–99:£3.000 million
• 1990–2000:£3,400 million

The Treasury will revise the forecasts in due course. As the Community budget for 1998 has not yet been finalised, there is no reason at this stage to update these forecasts.