Written question asked by Lord Dykes (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 March 1997. It was answered by Phillip Oppenheim (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 March 1997 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: If he will list the steps taken in ECOFIN (a) to change the status of the EU VAT and Tax Committee following the Verona Summit decision and (b) to create the provisional timetable for the European Commission's proposal for a common VAT system for member states.

Answer: Mr. Dykes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the steps taken in ECOFIN (a) to change the status of the EU VAT and Tax Committee following the Verona summit decision and (b) to create the provisional timetable for the European Commission's proposal for a common VAT system for member states. [20157] Mr. Oppenheim: ECOFIN has taken no steps to change the status of the VAT Committee which was established by the sixth VAT directive in 1977. The informal Verona ECOFIN of April 1996 did, however, establish a new high-level working group on tax. The European Commission's suggested programme for a "common system" for VAT to apply throughout the Community was presented to ECOFIN in October 1996, on a "take note" basis with no debate or discussion. There has been no other discussion or debate at ECOFIN about the suggested programme or its timetable.

Secondary information