HMRC and Google (Settlement) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

HMRC and Google (Settlement)

Richard Graham Excerpts
Monday 25th January 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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We always look to try to find ways to simplify the tax system. I would make the point that if a company operates in many jurisdictions, its tax affairs are inherently more complex than if it existed in just one country, but the Government are determined to ensure that where the economic activity occurs in the United Kingdom, we tax it in the United Kingdom.

Richard Graham Portrait Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)
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Everyone wants business to pay its fair share of tax, and most people will welcome the additional £130 million of tax revenue to fund important services, but many will wonder, given that the period of the settlement covers 2005 to 2011, what other multinational tax bills are out there that have still not been settled and what, if anything, the Labour party did in government to highlight those questions?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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On the latter question, it may be the case that astronomers have located the ninth planet, but I am not sure that they have found any evidence of the Labour party doing very much on tax avoidance in government.