Office of Tax Simplification Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Office of Tax Simplification

Margot James 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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We certainly anticipate that the Treasury Committee will want to take evidence from the tax director and the chairman, and that documents and recommendations produced by the OTS will be available to Members. I dare say that those recommendations will inform our debates on Finance Bills and, if it is possible, raise the quality of debate.

Margot James Portrait Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con)
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By how much did the tax code lengthen under the previous Government? I understand that its length is now a record in the western world.

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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I am afraid that I will not be able to give my hon. Friend a precise number, but the code did increase substantially in length. It is also worth noting that during the same period our tax competitiveness, as measured by the World Economic Forum, fell.