§ Lord Houghton of Sowerbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a company set up by the Roman Church to handle the promotion of the papal visit is required to register under the Companies Acts and whether profits from fees and royalties to cover the visit and profits from promotional commercial enterprises will be taxable.
§ Lord CockfieldThe answer to the first question would depend on the form in which the body concerned was set up, and whether it was a company as defined in the relevant provisions of the Companies Act. As the noble Lord knows, information about the tax affairs of particular taxpayers is confidential. However, profits from the activities described would normally be liable to tax.