§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for the Arts how many representations he has received about the consequences for the United Kingdom arts market of the European Economic Community Commission proposals on value added tax liability; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceI have received representations from the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission, the director of the National Art Collections Fund, and representatives of the arts trade on the draft seventh directive on harmonisation of VAT in the European Community, numbering seven in all. I can assure the hon. Member, as I did the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 6 November, that no decisions on new Community measures in respect of VAT and works of art are expected in the very near future.
I am very mindful of the unique position of the United Kingdom as a world centre of the trade in fine art and antiques. As Minister for the Arts I would of course be opposed to a harmonisation of VAT which damaged that position.