Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mel Stride and Alex Norris

Tuesday 5th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

16. What steps he has taken to ensure that HMRC has adequate (a) powers and (b) resources to investigate tax avoidance enablers.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mel Stride)]

The Government take a very serious view of those who enable or promote tax avoidance. We have taken a number of measures to clamp down on them, including penalties of up to £1 million.

[Alex Norris]

In 2017, the Government introduced the Criminal Finances Act to great fanfare, claiming that they were clamping down on the facilitators of tax-dodging. Will the Minister please confirm how many prosecutions have been brought for the new offence of failing to prevent tax evasion?

[Mel Stride]

We have taken action against enablers and promoters, and the cumulative amount of time in prison that has resulted from those particular actions is in excess of 100 years.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mel Stride and Alex Norris

Tuesday 6th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mel Stride)]

I obviously cannot comment on the specific case of the Sandbach services employees, but I assure my hon. Friend that I have looked extensively at this matter and consulted various Members across both sides of the House. I am satisfied that HMRC in general has conducted itself appropriately over this whole issue, but I am happy to meet her to discuss the specific point that she raised.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

T3. There were over 9,000 words in the Chancellor’s Budget speech, but not one mention of Nottingham or the east midlands. In the east midlands, we have multiple investable schemes that will drive growth in our region. When will the Treasury back the east midlands?