To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with (i) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (ii) Treasury officials regarding the proposals to reduce the proportion of the UK abatement in the agreement on the next EU financial perspective. (81822)

All Departments with an interest continue to work together to secure the successful implementation of the December deal on the EU Budget for 2007-2013.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make representations to (i) the EU Commission, (ii) the EU Presidency and (iii) other member state Governments to seek agreement to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposals to reduce the proportion of the UK abatement in the agreement on the next EU financial perspective. (81823)

The Own Resources Mechanisms for the next Financial Perspective 2007-13, including the UK Abatement, were agreed unanimously by member states at the December 2005 European Council. Discussions are continuing in Brussels concerning the technical details for implementation of the December agreement. As is usual, these involve the European Commission, the EU Presidency and all member states. We are considering the draft texts of the new Own Resources Decision carefully to make sure that they accurately reflect the outcome of the December European Council, including the agreement that the UK Abatement should remain.