The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)
The consultation on the introduction of a general anti-abuse rule closed on 14 September 2012, and the response document will be published in December. I am today announcing that the advisory panel will be established formally as a committee by the commissioners for HMRC, but HMRC will not be represented on the panel. The formal process will commence shortly to appoint a chair of the advisory panel, who will play a leading role in the appointment of other panel members during 2013. In order to put necessary arrangements in place for the consideration and approval of draft guidance, HMRC has invited Graham Aaronson QC, who led the GAAR study group, to lead an interim group of panel members to review and approve the guidance. Draft guidance will be published in December and will be approved in time for the introduction of the legislation into Parliament.