§ Mr. Cryerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that commercial organisations are actively promoting tax havens such as the Channel Islands; and if he will disallow claims for tax allowances on the fees for conferences on such matters.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 598W 914, c. 519–20], gave the following information:
I know that the possible uses of tax havens are urged on prospective clients by some tax advisers and that conferences are organised at which these and the obstacles to them are discussed. The tax deductibility of fees for attending such conferences is governed by the general law under which expenditure is allowable only if incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of a trade, profession or vocation or wholly exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of an office or employment. Whether or not any particular expenditure fell to be allowed could be judged only by reference to the facts of the particular case.