HL Deb 27 October 1997 vol 582 cc229-30WA
Lord Wallace of Saltaire

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated current loss to the Exchequer of the concession to allow duty-free purchases to British citizens travelling within the European Union and what additional revenue it anticipates will accrue from the planned abolition of this concession.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

No estimates are made of the revenue forgone to the Exchequer as a result of duty and tax-free shopping. Customs and Excise have undertaken work to assess the revenue consequences following abolition of intra-EU duty and tax free shopping scheduled for 30 June 1999. Their preliminary analysis indicates that abolition may yield an extra £100 million per year in revenue to the UK Exchequer, but this estimate will continue to be reviewed in the light of further information.