13/02/2005
What would we do without
eurofacts, its editor Gerry Frost and the amazing Ian Milne, who manages to crunch numbers faster than most of us get through a bowl of cereal?
They have now started a new series of Data Sheets. The first one deals with that perennially fascinating subject: just how much do we pay over to the EU.
Here are the figures based on the official information, printed in
The Pink Book 2004:
In 2003, Britainâs gross contribution was £13,121 million, which works out at £252 million a week, £36 million a day and £1½ million an hour.
In the same year gross receipts amounted to £8,310 million, which worked out at £160 million a week, £23 million a day and £1 million an hour.
Which brings us to the net contribution, of some interest, I should have thought to all those who grandly pronounce that the EU would be much better off without Britain, particularly if they happen to be French, Irish, Greek or Spanish:
In 2003 Britainâs net contribution was £4,811 million, which works out at £93 million a week, £13 million a day and £½ million an hour.
