§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those business organisations he has consulted about the new aggregate sales listings for VAT and indicate their concerns.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms and Excise consulted businesses very widely. A list is currently being prepared and I shall write to my hon. Friend when it is complete.
The concerns expressed related to compliance costs and burdens on businesses, and the potential for abuse of commercially sensitive information. These were taken fully into account in EC negotiations, where some significant simplifications were achieved; and in the measures to implement these arrangements in the United Kingdom.