Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts
Tuesday 7th June 2016

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the issue of investment in infrastructure in Hampshire and in her constituency of Portsmouth. There is money going into the road infrastructure, such as the M27, and some investment in rail infrastructure, such as Southampton Central station, but, clearly, there is room to do more. As someone who has some experience of the rail services from Portsmouth, I know that they are not as good as they could be. I am very happy to meet her, her colleagues and local businesses to see what more we can do.

Martyn Day Portrait Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)
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T4. In Scotland, we have introduced robust anti-avoidance rules—they are among the toughest in the world—on devolved taxes. The Scottish National party has repeatedly called on the Chancellor to embolden compliance by guaranteeing that the beneficial ownership of companies and trusts is made public. Has he taken steps to assure the people of the UK that this progressive step will happen?

David Gauke Portrait The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)
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The UK is bringing in a register of beneficial ownership for companies. On trusts, where there are tax consequences that will also be included. So, yes, the UK is leading on that, and we are pretty much the first country to do so.