§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has received on the legality of the reduction in employers' National Insurance contributions in connection with the climate change levy for the purposes of complying with EU competition regulations; and if he will publish it. [115263]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 17 March 2000]: The proposed reduction in the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions in April 2001 is in accordance with EU competition rules and is therefore a matter for the UK Government.