§ 2. Mr. John Wilkinson (Ruislip Northwood)When he last met the Commission of the European Union to discuss social security policy in the European Union. [79729]
§ The Parliamentary Under"Secretary of State for Social Security (Angela Eagle)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met Director-General Larsson on 1 March 1999.
§ Mr. WilkinsonDid the Secretary of State and the Minister discuss with Mr. Larsson the potential effect of a withholding tax on savings incomes of European Union nationals in other countries on the profitability of financial institutions, which has already been hit by the Government's changes to advance corporation tax? Should not Ministers have impressed on Mr. Larsson the importance of supporting privately funded pension schemes, especially as many of the countries in euroland have an unfunded liability for pensions of more than 100 per cent. of gross domestic product?
§ Angela EagleMr. Larsson is aware of the United Kingdom opinion on the withholding tax, but it is clearly for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, via ECOFIN, to present the main arguments on the issue. However, I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the bulk of the meeting with Mr. Larsson was spent in discussion on employment, employability and equal opportunities in the European Union.