§ Sir Robert SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the draft EU constitution on the Treasury's powers to set the fiscal regime for the exploitation of oil and gas reserves from the UK continental shelf. [R] [135325]
§ Dawn PrimaroloAny changes to the provisions of the existing EU Treaties, including in relation to energy matters, require the unanimous agreement of all member states. The Government have made it clear in their White Paper, "The British Approach to the European Union Inter-governmental Conference 2003", that they will insist that tax matters continue to be decided by unanimity.