Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Laurence Robertson and David Gauke

Tuesday 25th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con)]

8. What the UK contribution to the EU budget is expected to be in 2017-18.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

The Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for forecasting contributions to the European Union. It will update its forecast in this year’s autumn statement, but the forecast for the UK’s gross contribution in 2017-18 was £12.6 billion at the time of the Budget.

[Mr Robertson]

Notwithstanding all the spending pledges that have been made today and recently, hospitals, schools, police and roads in my constituency certainly need a spending boost. Does the Minister agree that the sooner we leave the European Union, the sooner that money will be available to them?

[Mr Gauke]

The amount of any money saved will depend on the overall fiscal situation and the broader economic environment. Decisions on spending will be made in the round in autumn statements and Budgets, but while we remain members of the European Union, we must of course comply with the requirements to pay into it.