HMRC and Google (Settlement) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

HMRC and Google (Settlement)

Roger Mullin Excerpts
Monday 25th January 2016

(8 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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It is the action that we have taken that has enabled this achievement by HMRC.

Roger Mullin Portrait Roger Mullin (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
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Mr Speaker:

“O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us/

To see oursels as ithers see us!”

I agree with the hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) that this will be seen by many small businesses the length and breadth of the country as unfair and not understandable. Surely, part of the problem, as a number of Members have said, is the sheer complexity of the system. Will the Government commit themselves to addressing that matter?

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.