Office of Tax Simplification Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Office of Tax Simplification

Claire Perry Excerpts
Tuesday 20th July 2010

(14 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The hon. Gentleman rightly makes the point that tax law is a complicated matter, and such matters are not addressed easily and simply, but we believe that we have appointed the right individuals, and that there is engagement by the tax professions. We believe that the tax law rewrite project had many commendable features, but it was very restricted. It focused merely on wording, and we want an independent body to consider policy recommendations to see how we can improve our tax system.

Claire Perry Portrait Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)
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Does the Minister agree that this is a very long overdue initiative, with two aspects that we would never have heard about from the Opposition—a focus on simplicity, and the idea that things can be done without the benefit of an overpaid quango?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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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.