Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts
Tuesday 4th November 2014

(10 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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We have already got in about £800 million, and we will get more, but that is money that we would not otherwise have received. That is a deal worth doing. It is worth pointing out that some people said that if we had not had this deal with the Swiss—which has brought in additional revenue—we would not have been able to make progress on automatic exchange of information, whereas the reality is that just last week the Chancellor signed a deal on behalf of this country that made progress on that.

Charlie Elphicke Portrait Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)
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Does my hon. Friend the Minister agree that under the previous Government the tax gap grew and that all the running in this Parliament on ensuring that businesses pay their fair share of tax and cracking down on tax dodgers has come from our side of the House, and that this Government have made the case internationally as well?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The tax gap as a proportion of tax receipts was higher under the previous Government than for every year under this Government. We have introduced about 40 measures to close loopholes, one of which, on disguised remuneration, let us not forget the Labour party opposed.