Tax Avoidance (HSBC) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Tax Avoidance (HSBC)

Andrew Love Excerpts
Monday 23rd February 2015

(9 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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They don’t want to hear about their record in government, Mr Speaker. Every single alleged offence happened when the Labour Government were in office. The information became publicly known when the Labour Government were in office. Lord Green’s first public appointment was as chair of the Prime Minister’s business council under the Gordon Brown Administration. The information was received from the French authorities under the last Labour Government. So I think the whole House—and, indeed, my hon. Friend’s constituents, who pay their taxes—would like the shadow Chancellor to get up and express a little bit of humility and contrition for the mistakes made when he was in office.

Andrew Love Portrait Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op)
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Since 2010 the Chancellor or Treasury Ministers have met HSBC 56 times. Was tax avoidance or tax evasion ever discussed at those meetings, and what was the outcome of those discussions?

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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First of all, it is not surprising that the British Government—Conservative, coalition or Labour—would meet one of the country’s largest institutions and banks. So that it is not a matter for surprise. I am happy to write to the hon. Gentleman about any details we have about particular meetings.