Written question asked by Lord Dykes (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Sassoon (Conservative) on Monday, 20 December 2010.

Taxation: Avoidance

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will include in their package of corporate anti-tax-avoidance measures restrictions on United Kingdom companies transferring their head offices to tax havens.

Answer: The Government recognise the need for a sustainable corporate tax system and one element of this is proportionate and effective anti-avoidance rules to ensure that UK tax revenues are adequately protected. The Government are fully committed to tackling tax avoidance and will take necessary steps to protect the Exchequer and maintain fairness in the tax system. That is why the Government announced a number of changes on 6 December to tackle specific tax avoidance risks. The Government's priority is returning the UK to balanced, sustainable growth. They recently published Corporate Tax Reform: Delivering a More Competitive System, bringing together a significant programme of corporate tax reforms to improve the UK's competitiveness. This demonstrates the Government's commitment to creating the right conditions for business investment in the UK, and making the UK a more attractive location for multinational businesses.

Secondary information