Primarolo 'unconvinced' by tax merger
Paymaster general Dawn Primarolo has once again confirmed her belief that there is no case for Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue to merge.
She was answering questions from the influential Commons Tresury select committee today, which is continuing its investigation into the roles of the two departments.
She said she was ‘still not convinced’ by suggestions that the tax collectors should come together under one roof.
The committee has already issued one report with its conclusion that the departments should merge, a view widely supported by experts in accountancy.
The key consideration is reducing the number of organisations going through company records to a minimum. Primarolo did not expand on why she is not persuaded by the arguments.
Customs and the Revenue have begun a programme of working together in ‘joint’ working parties that Primarolo said were making good progress.
Links
Heathcoat-Amory considers tax merger
MPs ask new questions on tax merger