HC Deb 26 January 1999 vol 324 cc218-9W
Mr. Ivan Henderson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on retaining duty free sales in the EU. [64597]

Dr. Stoate

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on retaining duty free sales in Europe. [64620]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 19 January 1999]: At the Vienna European Council meeting on 11 December 1998 the UK argued that there was a good case for looking once more at the decision to end duty-free sales in the EU. Heads of Government agreed that the Commission and ECOFIN should examine, by March 1999, the problems whtch could arise with regard to employment and to address, on the basis of proposals from the Commission, possible means of tackling these problems, including the possibility of a limited extension of duty-free sales.

The UK is now actively pursuing these issues with the Commission and other member states in order to find an acceptable solution, which has unanimous agreement.