§ 5. Mr. Rookerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with his Department's efforts in combating tax evasion.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI am satisfied with efforts to counter tax evasion by both the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise. The measures necessary to control and discourage tax evasion are kept under constant review.
§ Mr. RookerWould my hon. Friend care to estimate the result of the recovery of tax following 80,000 prosecutions for tax evasion last year, of which we do not hear much and for which the Treasury will not give a figure? Would it not be a good idea to make surtax and capital gains tax returns public documents so that everyone can have a look? In that way we might create a deafening silence among Conservative Members on all sorts of other matters.
§ Mr. DaviesThe second part of that question does not relate specifically to tax evasion, but the Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise are extremely zealous in their work in combating tax evasion. Indeed, the complaint that one hears—especially from hon. Members opposite—is that they are too zealous in doing so.