asked the Minister for Finance whether any negotiations are pending for a reciprocal arrangement with Belgium and France for exemption from double income tax payment.

Agreement has been reached on the provisions of a draft reciprocal convention with France for the avoidance of double taxation of income but there are certain formalities to be complied with before the convention will be ready for signature. Negotiations with Belgium are pending but the Belgian authorities will not be in a position to commence them for some considerable time.

Nothing has happened in the past 12 months in regard to Belgium?

We have more or less completed the matter with France in the past 12 months.