§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the legal base for use of qualified majority voting in the creation of an action programme for the enhancement of administrative co-operation between the indirect tax authorities in the European Community, as detailed in COM (97) 175; and what representation he has made in respect of its use in this respect. [10200]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The European Commission has proposed that the legal base for this action programme—the FISCALIS programme—should be article 100a of the treaty establishing the European Community, so making it a matter for co-decision with the European Parliament and qualified majority voting in the Council.
The UK remains firmly committed to unanimity as the basis for Community-level decision making on all substantive tax matters.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government would be prepared to join the economic and monetary union at the presently prevailing value of the pound; and if he will make a statement. [11336]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 29 July 1997]: It would be premature to speculate on an appropriate rate for joining EMU. The Chancellor does not propose to make a statement.