HL Deb 19 January 1999 vol 596 c93WA
Lord Hamilton of Dalzell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the statement by Lord Dubs on the Northern Ireland Bill on 27 October (H.L. Deb., col. 1842) that "Corporation tax provisions are determined centrally by the Treasury in the context of the United Kingdom's overall fiscal policy. To do otherwise might produce undesirable distortions within the United Kingdom single market. For that reason, it is important that corporation tax, like other taxes remains an excepted matter", means that these powers to tax would have to be surrendered by the United Kingdom to the European Union to avoid similar undesirable distortions. [HL361]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government have made it clear that they will retain the national veto on tax in Europe, including corporation tax. The Government would not support any action that would harm investment and jobs in Britain and the EU.