Mr. Philip Kermode:

There is probably a limit on what I can say about this subject. The information requested previously, as I understand it, regarded types and numbers of rulings and sought to establish if there was a systematic practice. In this case, competition authorities have identified a particular ruling and seek to look into it further. In order to do so, they must start a formal process. It is also clear that the revenue authorities co-operated very much with the competition authorities in providing this information, as was indicated quite clearly in Commissioner Almunia's statement today. From that perspective, we are merely part of the process, and as I indicated a few moments ago, the process is one where at a certain stage, these elements must be formalised if they are to be taken further. That is the stage at which we are now.