HC Deb 16 December 1999 vol 341 c299W
37. Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the damage to the British economy of unfair tax competition within the European Union. [101802]

Dawn Primarolo

Unfair tax competition in the form of harmful and discriminatory tax practices can distort competition and artificially attract investment and jobs away from member states, such as the UK, which have more neutral tax systems. Unfair tax practices of others prevent British business from operating on a more level playing field.