§ Mr. GaleTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with Treasury ministers in respect of obtaining from the European Union a material damage derogation to permit the cross-Channel duty-free trade to continue in perpetuity. [18060]
§ Mr. Ian McCartney[holding answer 27 November 1997]: None. The decision to allow intra-EU duty free sales to continue until 30 June 1999 was taken by the Council of Finance Ministers in 1991 so as to allow the economic sectors concerned time in which to adapt gradually to the new situation.