MP who used loan scheme accused of hypocrisy over tax avoidance

[webberg]

Webberg

They may be confidential, but could an FOI request ask how many registered MP's have an open enquiry for tax avoidance.
Just a thought.

Personally I would say, don't waste your time.

What actually is "tax avoidance"?

I've been doing this for 40 years and I would not suggest a definition, so putting that into a FoI is going to be tricky!

[BrilloPad]

Personally I would say, don't waste your time.

What actually is "tax avoidance"?

I've been doing this for 40 years and I would not suggest a definition, so putting that into a FoI is going to be tricky!

I know I am probably going to show my ignorance here. But could you asking how many current or former MPs have APNs against them?

[jonnieboy]

I know I am probably going to show my ignorance here. But could you asking how many current or former MPs have APNs against them?

I'm not sure HMRC would be able to easily cross-reference the APNs against the criteria "former MPs" - certainly not within the £600(?) limit for FoI enquries.

[webberg]

I'm not sure HMRC would be able to easily cross-reference the APNs against the criteria "former MPs" - certainly not within the £600(?) limit for FoI enquries.

The data is all in one place (Public Department 1, Ty Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff).

Collating the data would not be difficult or expensive.

Condientiality however is a much more difficult question.

[rcgeorge23]

I sent this FOI request to HMRC on Tuesday -

"In light of the recent news stories about Phil Boswell MP using the "Hyrax" tax avoidance scheme, please can you send me a list of all other current MPs who are using or have previously used a mass marketed tax avoidance scheme"

Yesterday they replied by email with a boilerplate response basically telling me they couldn't give me the information if asked for due to data protection.

I'd argue that knowing the tax affairs of our MPs is in the public interest. If they want everyone to pay their "fair share", then at the very least they should demonstrate that they are prepared to do the same.

[BrilloPad]

I sent this FOI request to HMRC on Tuesday -

"In light of the recent news stories about Phil Boswell MP using the "Hyrax" tax avoidance scheme, please can you send me a list of all other current MPs who are using or have previously used a mass marketed tax avoidance scheme"

Yesterday they replied by email with a boilerplate response basically telling me they couldn't give me the information if asked for due to data protection.

I'd argue that knowing the tax affairs of our MPs is in the public interest. If they want everyone to pay their "fair share", then at the very least they should demonstrate that they are prepared to do the same.

Well done for trying.

I bet if a few years ago someone had requested the same about MPs expenses it would have been denied due to data protection...

[DonkeyRhubarb]

I bet if a few years ago someone had requested the same about MPs expenses it would have been denied due to data protection...

That's what did happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...al_proceedings

[DaveB]

I sent this FOI request to HMRC on Tuesday -

"In light of the recent news stories about Phil Boswell MP using the "Hyrax" tax avoidance scheme, please can you send me a list of all other current MPs who are using or have previously used a mass marketed tax avoidance scheme"

Yesterday they replied by email with a boilerplate response basically telling me they couldn't give me the information if asked for due to data protection.

I'd argue that knowing the tax affairs of our MPs is in the public interest. If they want everyone to pay their "fair share", then at the very least they should demonstrate that they are prepared to do the same.

There is precedent for getting stuff like this but it requires a lot of time and effort and a willingness to persue it though the courts. Thats what happened with the expenses scandal. Although irrelevent in the end it went to the Information Tribunal, was then appealed and eventually upheld. Parliament had already agreed to release the information by the time the final appeal was heard.

[DotasScandal]

I sent this FOI request to HMRC on Tuesday -

"In light of the recent news stories about Phil Boswell MP using the "Hyrax" tax avoidance scheme, please can you send me a list of all other current MPs who are using or have previously used a mass marketed tax avoidance scheme"

Yesterday they replied by email with a boilerplate response basically telling me they couldn't give me the information if asked for due to data protection.

I'd argue that knowing the tax affairs of our MPs is in the public interest. If they want everyone to pay their "fair share", then at the very least they should demonstrate that they are prepared to do the same.

Did you do that via whatdotheyknow.com?
If not (as I think), I would suggest making the request through that channel again. They will normally respond with the same boilerplate response you got already. Then, you can follow up by questioning it.

We can then link to the "conversation" and start publicizing the matter.

How does that sound?

[rcgeorge23]

Done.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...utgoing-500756