§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent developments in the negotiations on duty free sales. [84300]
§ Dawn PrimaroloRecent discussions on intra-EU duty free sales have not secured agreement on extending the current arrangements beyond 30 June 1999. The Government have never underestimated the difficulty of achieving this as it requires unanimity amongst member states. Ministers take this issue very seriously and the UK will continue to explore with our European partners options for the best way ahead.