§ 41. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to meet leaders of the Trades Union Congress in order to discuss with them the implications to the economy of the latest British proposals in connection with the application for entry into the Common Market.
§ Mr. BarberMy colleagues concerned and I would always be ready for talks with leaders of the Trades Union Congress about the negotiations and their implications for the economy.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that on any known terms of settlement of conditions for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community there will be a substantial net outflow of exchange in the transitional years of entry; and, taking the known position of existing conditions and known terms of entry as on 1st April, 1971, what this outflow of exchange would be for each year from 1st April, 1971, until 1st April, 1976.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanThe terms are not yet known. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy, in his statement on 16th December, set out the relevant considerations and estimates for the transitional period. Otherwise I have nothing to add to my reply today to the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate).
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, other than newspapers, magazines and food, items will be excluded from the imposition of the value-added tax; and to what extent these exemptions differ from or harmonise with those in the countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. HigginsI have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 7th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 196.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a 62W further statement on the role of sterling in the light of the new situation arising from the Dutch Government's change of policy concerning sterling's role in the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. BarberNo.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether as all food is taxed in each of the countries of the Six which have a value-added tax, he will obtain and publish details of these value-added taxes.
§ Mr. HigginsNo.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent the imposition since 1st January, 1971, of a six per cent. value-added tax on essential goods and services, the 14 per cent. on clothes, leather goods, and electricity, the 18 per cent. on household appliances, together with a 25 per cent. on luxury goods, has increased the cost of living in Belgium;
(2) whether he is now able to give details as to what extent the increased value-added tax since 1st January, 1971, of 4 per cent. to 8 per cent. of all items other than food has increased the cost of living in Luxembourg.
§ Mr. HigginsI have nothing to add to the answers I gave to similar questions by the hon. Member on 6th and 20th April.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the watch that he has been keeping on the experiences of Belgium and other countries which have imposed a value-added tax, why he will not state whether his investigations have been such as to enable him to state to what extent this tax has affected the rise in the cost of living in Belgium and each of the countries of the Six.
§ Mr. HigginsBecause the information available does not enable me to isolate changes in costs of living due to the introduction of value-added taxes from changes due to other causes.