EU: UK Net Contributions

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Wednesday 24th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sassoon]

What I can confirm is that the UK’s priorities for expenditure include the following: substantial cuts to the common agricultural policy. However, I agree with the noble Lord that priorities for the UK include growth and competitiveness, climate change and external action. I am not going to speculate on how the negotiations will play out.

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom]

Will my noble friend confirm that, in the absence of any compromise, what is being asked for by the European Commission is a 6.8% increase in the budget? Is this not an extraordinarily high figure which shows an unbelievable insensitivity to the problems that Governments are facing across the EU as they try to rein back their deficits?

[Lord Sassoon]

Yes, I completely agree with my noble friend.