HC Deb 22 October 2003 vol 411 c623W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether direct taxation will remain the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government if the draft EU Constitution is ratified by the UK. [132558]

Dawn Primarolo

Any changes to the provisions of the existing EU Treaties, including in relation to direct taxation, 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 Intergovernmental Conference 2003", that they will insist that tax matters continue to be decided by unanimity.