asked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions since 1997 HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue have either compensated or come to a tax settlement with an individual taxpayer in relation to the unauthorised disclosure of personal or corporate tax information by an officer or former officer in breach of the Official Secrets Act and codes of conduct or practice for officers of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue. [HL2841]
Neither HMRC nor the Inland Revenue hold records of tax settlements or compensation payments detailing the information requested.
Since April 2005 when HMRC was formed, the department is unaware of any settlements or payments resulting from a breach of the Official Secrets Act 1989.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions unauthorised disclosures of tax information by its officers or former officers have been reported to HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue as acts of malfeasance of public office since records have been kept. [HL2842]
Unauthorised disclosures would not be reported as acts of malfeasance, and therefore HMRC has no information of the type requested.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Mr Allitt of Preston, Lancashire; and [HL2843]
Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Oyston family companies; [HL2844]
Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Mr Gray of Preston, Lancashire; and [HL2845]
Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Mr McGrath of Preston, Lancashire. [HL2846]
For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, HMRC does not comment on matters relating to individual taxpayers.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what date the general intervention team of HM Revenue and Customs received evidence of malfeasance in public office by Inland Revenue officers; and what action is to be taken on this matter. [HL2872]
For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, HMRC does not comment on matters relating to individual taxpayers.
Where allegations of malfeasance are made, they are passed to HMRC's internal governance unit to action as appropriate taking account of all of the relevant circumstances.