HL Deb 21 May 2002 vol 635 cc91-2WA
Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 1 May (WA 99), whether they wish harmful aspects of the tax regimes in European Union member states and their dependent or associated territories to be terminated in the absence of similar agreements and standards everywhere else. [HL4266]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government are fully committed to the European Union Code of Conduct on Business Taxation and wish to see all the harmful aspects of tax regimes in EU member states and their dependent and associated territories removed.

These commitments are part of the Government's support for international initiatives aimed at curbing harmful tax practices and anti-competitive tax practices and wider international efforts to ensure fair tax competition. For instance, the UK strongly supports the OECD harmful tax initiative, which seeks to promote fair tax competition worldwide.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 1 May (WA 99–100), whether Luxembourg or any other European Union member state has been granted exemptions to ECOFIN's requirements on business taxation; whether any similar exemptions have been offered to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man; and, if not, why not. [HL4269]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Code of Conduct on Business Taxation applies equally to all member states. No exemptions have been granted.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 1 May (WA 100), what are the "international standards of fair tax competition"; where they are written down; and which countries have signed up to them. [HL4270]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The European Union Code of Conduct on Business Taxation, which was adopted by the ECOFIN Council on 1 December 1997, sets out international standards of fair tax competition by defining the criteria against which potentially harmful tax measures should be assessed.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also published a report, Harmful Tax Competition: An Emerging Global Issue, in April 1998 (available from the House of Lords Library) which sets out factors to be taken into account in considering whether or not particular tax regimes constitute harmful tax practices.