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European Communities (Finance) Bill

The hon. Gentleman is entitled to reach that opinion. I said clearly that the own resources decision maintains the basis of the rebate as it was first agreed among the 12 countries of the EU, which shortly thereafter became 15. That rebate has remained in place ever since, and stays in place on that basis. It is calculated on all spending—agricultural and non-agricultural spending—in the EU 15. Different arrangements are made for the accession countries and the rebate is disapplied on non-agricultural spending—essentially, spending to support economic development. As I say, the hon. Gentleman is entitled to his judgment that that is the wrong thing to do—that that is not how we should pay for enlargement. In return, I say to him that, as a result of this decision, France's net contributions grow at a significantly greater rate than this country's do. We have secured the rebate, which will increase in value throughout the course of this financial perspective, and, at the same time, we shall have a fair way of funding the enlargement of the European Union. That seems to me to be a good deal for this country.