EEC (Value Added Tax)

– in the House of Commons at 3:44 pm on 30 June 1987.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Roy Hattersley Mr Roy Hattersley , Birmingham Sparkbrook 3:44, 30 June 1987

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It relates to the indisputable and undisputed fact that Commissioners of the EEC meet tomorrow to consider the extension of value added tax to items that do not at present bear that tax within the United Kingdom. It seems to me and to hon. Members on both sides of the House wholly intolerable that such consideration should take place in Brussels with the intention of making value added tax mandatory in the United Kingdom without the House of Commons being given an opportunity even to comment upon it.

I suspect that, were I to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 10, Mr. Speaker, you might find that proposition difficult to resist. Were you to accept such a proposition, the issue would be debated tomorrow afternoon, by which time the Commissioners of the EEC would have considered the further imposition of VAT on goods that are presently zero rated in Britain.

My point of order is simple, Mr. Speaker. If you share my view that the House of Commons has a mandatory and automatic right to consider the potential increases in taxation in this country, then the Government should offer the House the opportunity at least to comment on that issue today. I ask you about ways in which that might be pursued.

Photo of Mr Bernard Weatherill Mr Bernard Weatherill , Croydon North East

The answer to the right hon. Gentleman is that this is a matter that could quite legitimately be raised in the course of the debate on the Queen's Speech. I have no doubt that it will be.