Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the legal basis permitting HM Revenue and Customs to remove money from personal bank accounts without first obtaining a Court Order, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech in March.

The Government consulted on the process and safeguards for the Direct Recovery of Debts between 6 May and 29 July 2014. This policy will modernise and strengthen HM Revenue’s and Customs’ ability to recover tax and tax credit debts from those who are refusing to pay what they owe but have sufficient funds in their accounts.

The Government will publish draft legislation in due course.

In line with the Government’s Tax Policy Framework, this draft legislation will be consulted on before it is included in the Finance Bill, where it will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny