Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and George Mudie

Tuesday 12th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. and learned Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue, which the Government have focused on extensively in recent months. We have consulted on what we can do in this area, and I hope that we will be able to report back on that shortly. We have also strengthened the disclosure of tax avoidance schemes regime, making it increasingly difficult for people to peddle these artificial, contrived schemes that involve people not paying their fair share. We do not think that that is right and we are doing something about it.

[Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab)]

Two years ago Christine Lagarde gave the Treasury 6,000 names of UK nationals using Swiss bank HSBC to avoid paying tax. Two years later, one of them has been convicted. Is the case closed on the other 5,999, and if so, why?

[Mr Gauke]

I am not going to get drawn into individual cases, but I will say that under this Government the number of prosecutions will increase fivefold. We are giving additional resources to HMRC to help to deal with prosecutions, and we have strengthened its offshore team. Our record on dealing with tax evasion—dealing with those who have cheated the system—is one of which we are proud, and it compares very favourably with the record that we inherited.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and George Mudie

Tuesday 6th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend is right to point out that we need to be vigilant about aggressive tax avoidance and the diversion of profits from where genuine economic activity occurs. That is why the Chancellor of the Exchequer is leading the way on that, working with the German Finance Minister, and why we had the announcement from Mexico yesterday that the G20 is focusing on that and encouraging the OECD to progress its work so that we can deal with this as soon as possible.

[Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab)]

18. What estimate he has made of the level of economic growth since the October 2010 spending review.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and George Mudie

Tuesday 11th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

I am pleased to say that my hon. Friend is right. Our policy will reduce complexity in the tax system and reduce the need for high marginal rates for pensioners through the taper system.

[Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab)]

5. What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the public sector net borrowing figures in the current fiscal year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and George Mudie

Tuesday 8th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for asking that question. Indeed, last week I had a meeting with representatives of leading non-governmental organisations on this matter, and the Government are actively engaged at a European Union level to see how we can progress it. He raises a fair point.

[Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab)]

T7. The Chancellor referred to the need for the regulator to have good judgment. Do Ministers think that the same regulator is using good judgment in all aspects of the retail and mortgage reviews?

PAYE Contributions

Debate between David Gauke and George Mudie

Wednesday 8th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. One of the stresses and strains that HMRC has had to deal with has been the complexity of the tax system. If we can address that, we can establish a simpler PAYE system and reduce the demands placed on HMRC so that it can focus on these very matters.

[Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab)]

It would be a disservice to the many millions of people affected—certainly the 1.4 million who are being chased for repayments—if we allowed this matter to be passed over in gaining party political points on either side. [Laughter.] It is not amusing to the 1.4 million people. The report says that it was the Minister who noticed the disparity in the figures and asked for a review. The result is sad, but I commend him for uncovering the problem. This issue raises important questions, and that is why party political point scoring would be wrong. It is not the first debacle from this department. As the Minister looks into it, can the House expect some resignations or disciplinary action in respect of the highly paid chairman and chief executive and board?

[Mr Gauke]

I appreciate that the hon. Gentleman has consistently raised concerns about HMRC. In my view, we need to focus on moving forward. The fundamental problem is the PAYE system and the inability, over many years, to bring it into the 21st century. In my view, the days of Treasury Ministers throwing staplers around should be past. We need to work with HMRC constructively to ensure that we have an improvement in our tax system.

Office of Tax Simplification

Debate between David Gauke and George Mudie

Tuesday 20th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

I think that we are going to achieve something very important, with good value for money for the taxpayer—and I think that will be a hallmark of this Government.

[Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab)]

To prove to the House the independence of the Office for Budget Responsibility, the Chancellor finally conceded that the appointment of its chair would be subject to the agreement of the Treasury Committee. If the so-called independent OTS is actually to be so, will the same arrangements be considered for the appointment of its chair?

[Mr Gauke]

We have not taken a view on that yet. We have to understand what the role of the OTS will be—to publish recommendations that will be, by necessity, in the public domain. People can debate those matters, which we think is a valuable purpose in itself. Whether the Treasury Committee needs to endorse every appointment made by the Government is a debate that we should have.