§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the liability under EU legislation of owners of British-registered merchant vessels for corporation tax on a tonnage basis; what estimate he has made of the impact on the Exchequer of changing to such a system; and what information he has collated concerning the practice of Governments of other member states in this respect. [55690]
§ Dawn PrimaroloWe have received representations from various sources about a tonnage-based tax system for shipping. We do not have a confirmed estimate of the cost of introducing such a system to the UK. We understand that some other European states such as Greece, Norway and the Netherlands operate tonnage-based tax systems.