§ Mr. FormanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will publish the document giving the plans and arrangements for the tax law rewrite, referred to in his 1996 Budget statement. [8931]
§ Mr. JackI am very pleased to be able to report on the good progress that has been made on the tax law rewrite. The Inland Revenue has today published a document which sets out the response to its consultations on this project to rewrite tax law in clearer and simpler language. I am placing copies in the Libraries of the House.
This document takes full account of the comments received. It sets out the resulting plans and arrangements for taking the rewrite forward, so that the first rewrite Bill will be ready for enactment in the 1997–98 parliamentary Session.
This is a very important and worthwhile project which will bring the benefits of clarity and certainty to businesses and ordinary taxpayers alike. We are committed to proceeding with it on the basis of full consultation.
§ Mr. FormanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will be the members of the tax law rewrite steering committee being chaired by the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC. [8932]
§ Mr. JackThe steering committee will play a crucial role in the rewrite project. Under the chairmanship of the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC, the committee will guide the project through the challenges that lie ahead, while ensuring that it keeps to its objectives.
190WThe committee combines the talents and experience of a wide range of members drawn from Parliament, the legal and accountancy professions, consumer interests and the private sector.
I am delighted to announce today that the other members of the committee will be the right hon. Sir John Balcombe, Mr. Ian Barlow, Dr. John Avery Jones CBE, Mr. Steve Matheson CB, Dr. John Marek MP, Ms Sheila McKechnie OBE, Sir John Shaw and Mr. Tim Smith MP. I am sure that this important project will benefit greatly from their experience.