Tax Advice

Mr. Malcolm Bruce
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13261]

Mr. Straw
Expenditure by the Department, its agencies and non departmental bodies (NDPBs), on tax consultants and other tax advice for the three years in question is: ---------------------
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|(i) Tax Consultants|
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|(ii) Other         |
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|(i) Tax Consultants|
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|(ii) Other         |
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|(i) Tax Consultants|
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|(ii) Other         |
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Mr. Malcolm Bruce
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement.[13262]

Mr. Straw
The Department's policy is not to use tax advisers for tax avoidance purposes. Such advisers may be used to assist the Department in meeting its statutory tax obligations.