§ Mr. Lesterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Council of Finance Ministers.
§ Mr. BrookeThe EC Economic and Finance Council met in Brussels on 20 January. The United Kingdom was represented by its permanent representative.
The Council adopted a negotiating mandate on commercial interest reference rates, for discussions in the OECD on export credits.
The Council also decided on the terms of reference for the work of the high level group on indirect tax approximation, which it set up at its December meeting. The remit is a wide ranging one, and will allow the group to look at all aspects of indirect tax in the context of completion of the internal market.