Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 20 November (HL2705), whether they have taken, or will take, any action in relation to any contracts for services by them or bodies funded by them entered into with auditors, accountants or financial advisers named in <i>The Guardian</i> on 6 November.

The Government is clear that aggressive tax avoidance is totally unacceptable. That is why we are closing loopholes, bringing in a General Anti-Abuse Rule, and investing additional funding to help HMRC promote tax compliance.

The Government’s policy to promote tax compliance through public procurement is another tool that means government departments can exercise their power to exclude firms bidding for government contracts solely on the basis that they have been non-compliant in meeting their legal tax obligations.

This issue will remain under constant review by HM Government.