The UK Government is at the forefront of the global response to international aggressive tax planning and cross-border evasion, driving the international tax, transparency and trade agenda forward under the UK's G8 presidency in 2013, and fully backing the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project.<\/p>
<\/p>
Under the Prime Minister's leadership of the G8, the UK has led a global leap forward in international tax transparency, meaning there are fewer places to hide. We are imposing tough new sanctions for those who do not come forward under HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) offshore disclosure facilities. There will be serious consequences for those who continue to believe they can hide wealth offshore, when later on this year HMRC will consult on a new strict liability criminal offence that could mean jail for those who do not declare taxable offshore income. HMRC will also consult on tougher civil sanctions. In addition, last year the Government entered into a series of Intergovernmental Agreements with the overseas territories which will ensure that from September 2016 HMRC will receive details of UK residents who have bank accounts and other investments in the overseas territories.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC co-operates with tax authorities in other countries, in areas such as exchange of information and recovery of tax. Following the commitments made at the G8, all of the UK's Overseas Territories with financial centres and the Crown Dependencies have taken significant steps forward on tax transparency putting them at the forefront of this agenda globally. In addition to signing agreements with the UK for the automatic exchange of tax information, they have also agreed to be early adopters of the new global standard for automatic exchange of tax information, committing to an ambitious timetable of implementation as members of a group of 44 countries and jurisdictions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-07T15:12:57.7574779Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tax Avoidance: British Overseas Territories"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress he has made in reducing levels of tax avoidance in the UK's Overseas Territories.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/286", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Joan Walley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stoke-on-Trent North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Joan Walley"} ], "uin" : "202916"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64464", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64464/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As explained in the answer I gave on 1 July 2014, Official Report, Column Reference 581W, a copy of the contract, which runs until April 2021, can be viewed on the National Archive website at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/freedom/steps-contract.htm<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-02T14:51:54.0707854Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Mapeley"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 675W, on Mapeley, how many years the Private Finance Initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor Limited has left to run.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3971", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Charlie Elphicke"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dover"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Charlie Elphicke"}
], "uin" : "202953"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64577", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64577/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The finalised annual award Child and Working Tax Credits statistics for 2012-13 are available here:<\/p> <\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-tax-credits-finalised-award-statistics-geographical-statistics-2012-to-2013<\/a><\/p> <\/p> Since <\/ins>the original PQ answer was issued, HM Revenue and Customs<\/ins> have revised figures for finalised Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics for 2012-13. As such, figures in the referenced publication of interest may <\/ins>have <\/ins>be<\/ins>en<\/ins> subject to change<\/ins>.<\/ins><\/ins><\/p> <\/p> The finalised annual award Child and Working Tax Credits statistics for 2011-12 are available here:<\/p> <\/p> Country<\/p><\/td> Debt as a proportion of GDP in 2012<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Canada<\/p><\/td> 347%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> France<\/p><\/td> 335%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Germany<\/p><\/td> 248%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Italy<\/p><\/td> 329%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Japan<\/p><\/td> 476%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> UK<\/p><\/td> 309%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> US<\/p><\/td> 320%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4262", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Deighton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Deighton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-07T11:11:49.6095145Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debts"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the ratio of the aggregated value of sovereign, corporate and personal debt to gross domestic product is higher in the United Kingdom than in other leading economies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Birt"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Birt"}
], "uin" : "HL686"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64151", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64151/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is only available at a disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has processes in place to ensure that reservist service personnel called up for military service receive the full benefit of their personal income tax allowances whilst they are on active duty.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-02T14:48:59.6811175Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Reserve Forces: Taxation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of reserve servicemen who have been allocated the wrong tax code by HM Revenue and Customs as a result of their additional income accruing from military duties.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "202559"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64152", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64152/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle excessive pay in the financial sector and ensure that pay is aligned with performance, with a tough Remuneration Code that requires deferral of at least 60% of bonuses of senior bankers and limits the amounts that can be paid in cash. Bonuses are down significantly since their peak under the last Government, and are now largely deferred and paid in shares.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In contrast, the EU's bonus cap is a poorly thought through measure that undermines rather than reinforces our efforts by pushing up fixed pay. It was introduced without any proper impact assessment and has issues around its compatibility with the EU Treaty; for these reasons we are challenging it in the European Court of Justice. However, pending the outcome, the Government is fully implementing the cap in the UK, and the Prudential Regulation Authority is responsible for ensuring that the banks comply with these rules.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-03T15:39:53.0572412Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Banks: Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Prudential Regulation Authority and (b) Financial Conduct Authority about reports of UK banks paying allowances to employees in order to avoid the EU's bonus cap; and what steps he plans to take to reduce such practices.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/437", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir David Crausby"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton North East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr David Crausby"}
], "uin" : "202634"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64153", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64153/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not available.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-01T15:03:55.3319735Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will estimate the additional receipts accruing to the Exchequer as a result of changes in levels of employment since May 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Jones"}
], "uin" : "202645"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64154", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64154/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Treasury Ministers have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:<\/p> www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel<\/p> <\/p> It is important that customers can make the most of their savings. This is why at Budget 2014 we announced a radical package of measures to support savers \u2013 reducing taxes for the lowest income savers, reforming the ISA regime to give savers greater flexibility as to where and how they save their money, and creating a product to help retired savers see a better return.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-02T16:45:13.8040315Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Savings"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet representatives of financial institutions to discuss how those institutions can assist customers to get the best return on their savings.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "202658"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64155", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64155/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The most recent available estimate of Corporation Tax receipts in respect of Northern Ireland relates to financial year 2012-13. This estimate was published by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in \u2018A Disaggregation of HMRC Tax Receipts between England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland'. A link to the publication is provided below:<\/p>