§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate the numbers of duty free cigarettes per month brought into the United Kingdom by EU travellers in the past year. [64097]
§ The Prime MinisterHM Customs and Excise have no published estimate of the number of duty free cigarettes brought into the UK by EU travellers.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister (1) when he took the decision to support a continuation of EU duty free purchases of cigarettes for travellers; [64096]
(2) if he will make it his policy to oppose the continuation of duty free personal imports of cigarettes. [64101]
§ The Prime MinisterAt the recent European Council meeting in Vienna a number of Member States, including the UK, asked the Commission and the Council of Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) to examine, by March 1999, the problems which could arise with regard to employment and to address, on the basis of proposals from the Commission, possible means of tackling these problems, including the possibility of a limited extension to duty free shopping. Any proposal to extend duty free shopping beyond 30 June 1999 would still be subject to unanimity in Council.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1998,Official Report, column 219, what case for looking again at the 1991 decision to abolish duty-free sales within the European Union at the end of June 1999 is available now that was not available at the time of his written answer of 19 May 1998, Official Report, column 315, his oral answer of 20 May 1998, Official Report, column 952, his written answer of 3 June 1998, Official Report, column 215, or during the last United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union. [63948]
457W
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 14 December 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the oral reply I gave him in the House on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 618.