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European Communities (Finance) Bill

I am happy to acknowledge that the hon. Gentleman is a leading light and the intellectual driving force in the ““Better Off Out”” group—if that is not a contradiction in terms. To reply to the hon. Gentleman directly, the cost of disapplying the rebate to non-agricultural spending in the accession countries—that is essentially what we are discussing—is capped at €10.5 billion. That is the maximum cost of those changes. However, as I said to the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley), that is the consequence of a policy of enlargement. It is not possible to argue that enlargement is a one-way process from which the UK gains no benefits. Later, I shall give the Committee figures showing that, already, British companies are doing significantly more trade with companies from the accession states. New opportunities have opened up for British business, as has happened after every round of enlargement, such as when Spain, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland joined the EU, so it is good for the British economy. That contrasts with the view often expressed by the Conservatives that it is a one-way street with no benefits for this country.