Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to reinstating tax-free shopping for tourists, and what stage the review by the Office for Budget Responsibility has reached into the potential benefits of doing so.

The Government is welcoming industry submissions on the VAT Retail Export Scheme and the associated airside scheme (tax-free shopping). The Government will continue to accept representations and consider this new information carefully, alongside broader data.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is independent. It has announced it is reviewing the costing of the abolition of tax-free shopping in 2020. The OBR has stated that it will aim to publish it’s conclusions alongside the Spring Budget.