Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts
Tuesday 20th December 2011

(12 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Dominic Grieve Portrait The Attorney-General
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If a matter that requires investigation is brought to my attention and to the attention of the Serious Fraud Office, the Serious Fraud Office or other prosecutorial authorities will investigate it. The fact that there may have been a financial collapse does not necessarily mean that criminal offences have been committed.

Kelvin Hopkins Portrait Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)
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Tax evasion and tax fraud cost the Exchequer billions every year. If the Government are serious about reducing the deficit, would they not do better by chasing the tax evaders and tax fraudsters, rather than sacking public service workers and cutting public services?

Dominic Grieve Portrait The Attorney-General
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If I may say so, that is rather a long way from the Serious Fraud Office. If the hon. Gentleman wants the statistics on the pursuit of tax evasion, I would be happy to provide them and write to him about it.