HC Deb 29 October 1999 vol 336 c1035W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU countries about EU proposals to enable a reduced rate of VAT to apply to(a) labour-intensive industries and (b) work on listed buildings. [95490]

Dawn Primarolo

The terms of a draft Directive to allow member states to apply a reduced rate of VAT to certain labour-intensive services have been discussed by the European Council of Finance Ministers on several occasions this year: final agreement was reached on 22 October.

There have been no discussions specifically about a reduced rate for work on listed buildings.