§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) prior and (b) continuing consultation he has had with the Government of Gibraltar in respect of discussions on taxation in the European Union Code of Conduct Group. [64475]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 17 December 1998]: Discussions on the EU Code of Conduct were held at ministerial level with Government of Gibraltar representatives before the Code of Conduct was agreed on 1 December 1997. Since then the UK Government have kept the Government of Gibraltar informed of significant developments in the Code of Conduct exercise. Gibraltarian officials attended a seminar in September 1998 to discuss the Code and other initiatives to tackle harmful tax competitions. A meeting took place in October 1998 between the Chief Minister and other Government of Gibraltar representatives and senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Treasury and Inland Revenue officials to discuss these issues.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what link the Government have made between consideration of future tax regimes in Gibraltar and voting286W rights for citizens of Gibraltar in European parliamentary elections, as part of the discussions in the European Union Code of Conduct Group. [64476]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 17 December 1998]: These are two separate and distinct issues. The EU Code of Conduct tackles the specific problem of harmful tax competition. It is only right that Gibraltar should be part of international efforts to ensure fair tax competition and Gibraltar is part of the Community for these purposes. With reference to the issue of voting rights for citizens of Gibraltar in European Parliamentary elections, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), on 9 December 1997, Official Report, column 499, to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson).