Simon Hughes
Main Page: Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)Department Debates - View all Simon Hughes's debates with the HM Treasury
(13 years, 4 months ago)
Commons Chamber Mr Speaker
    
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Mr Speaker 
        
    
        
    
        Last but not least, the House—and the nation—can hear from Mr Simon Hughes.
 Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD)
    
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD) 
        
    
        
    
        Following the exchanges about tax avoidance and the Government’s very robust position, can one of the Treasury team tell us how soon we will have in place a system that targets not just celebrity individuals but all high-worth individuals, so that they all pay a decent share of tax to the nation?
 Mr Gauke
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Mr Gauke 
        
    
        
    
        HMRC already has in place a particular team that focuses on high-net-worth individuals; under this Government, we have also introduced a team that deals with not just the very top but the next band; and we are looking to introduce a general anti-abuse rule that will address tax avoidance—aggressive tax avoidance—more widely. This Government remain absolutely determined to ensure that people pay their fair share.