Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has made to the Romanian Presidency on progressing its negotiations on abolishing VAT on sanitary products.

To date, the Romanian Presidency has held one official level discussion on the European Commission’s legislative proposal on VAT Rates. As drafted, this proposal would give the UK the flexibility to apply a zero rate of VAT to women’s sanitary products.

During this discussion, the UK delegation made clear that the Government strongly supports the flexibility that the draft legislation would offer. Member States and the Commission are well aware of the Government’s firm commitment to zero rate women’s sanitary products as soon as it is legal to do so.