§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to seek a material damage derogation from the European Commission to permit the cross-channel duty-free trade to continue in perpetuity. [18061]
§ Dawn Primarolo[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 give all the economic sectors concerned time in which to adapt gradually to the new situation.