§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional full-year yield to the Exchequer which will result from the abolition of the system of duty-free goods; and if he will make a statement. [70441]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 11 February 1999]: It is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty the additional revenue which will result from the abolition of duty-free sales within Europe. Estimates are sensitive 592W to a whole range of assumptions about the nature of the successor regime and the post-abolition marketing strategies of the duty-free operators. There is insufficient certainty on either of these points to make meaningful predictions at this stage.