§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of his Department's expenditure on(a) tax consultants and (b) other external tax advice in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13535]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 30 October 1997]The Treasury has not sought external tax advice or employed tax consultants in order to reduce the Department's tax payments.