§ 57. Dame Irene Wardasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will begin his review of the consequences of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, so far as it relates to assistance in meeting increased food costs for those living on small fixed incomes who cannot be helped by increases in social benefits or reductions in taxation.
§ Mr. MacDermotIt would be premature to undertake a review until the outcome of negotiations with the Community is known, but as the Government have made clear, they have very much in mind the situation that would arise from a prospective rise in food costs.
§ 59. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that the coverage of indirect taxation in the Common Market countries is generally wider than in Great Britain; as Her Majesty's Government will have to harmonise Great Britain's turnover taxation to include goods not now taxed in this country, what action he has taken, or intends to take, to do this; what extra goods will have to be taxed and by what amounts; and what will be the total increase in revenue resulting 163W from this new taxation when Great Britain enters the European Economic Community;
(2) whether he is aware that the system of indirect taxation as operated in the Common Market affects fuel; what action he has taken or intends to take to harmonise the taxation of fuel on the basis operating in the European Economic Community; and to what extent these taxes will increase the cost of fuel on the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. MacDermotI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave to his previous Question on 1st June.—[Vol. 747, c. 77–78.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware that under the Treaty of Rome, if the request for membership is granted, Great Britain will have to allow unlimited currency for travel purposes within the Community and for the purchase of shares and property; and whether, to show to the Community Great Britain's earnestness for membership, he will now permit freedom of currency for these purposes.
§ Mr. DiamondI am aware of the obligations imposed by the Treaty of Rome and subsequent E.E.C. Directives. The Answer to the second part of the Question is "No".
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the various types of taxes now operated in the countries of the European Economic Community; how these compare with those in Great Britain; and to what extent there will be changes in Great Britain's tax system on entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. DiamondI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on Tuesday, 9th May, and, on the question of fiscal harmonisation, to the Prime Minister's speech in the Common Market Debate.—[Vol. 746, c.189; c. 1089–91.]