§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of discussions about the future of duty free at the ECOFIN meeting on 15 March; and if he will make a statement. [78205]
§ Dawn PrimaroloAt ECOFIN the Presidency proposed a one-off further extension of two and a half years for excise duty free arrangements with VAT being applied from 1 July 1999. Six member states supported this compromise proposal. Six member states and the Commission opposed it. The Presidency concluded that COREPER should be invited to examine the Commission's proposals and report back to the next ECOFIN Council. The UK will continue to press strongly the case for a deferral of the abolition of excise duty free so that better successor regime arrangements can be developed.