Clause 12
6:45 pm
George Mudie (Leeds East, Labour)
I rise to ask the Economic Secretary if he will tell the Committee the meaning of subsection (2). When certain benefits were moved from the DWP to HMRC, it was clear that the philosophy, ethos and rules of HMRC differed from those of the DWP. Customers were treated differently in terms of money pulled back, appeals and so on. The subsection seems to say that certain moneys in saving gateway transactions, at some stage, can be regarded as taxable. That strikes a chord of worry with me: it is a continuation of the problems that we have had with HMRC over tax credits and the like. I note that the appeals procedure, which we will come to, relates only to subsection (3), not subsection (2). I want an explanation of what that is about and what it covers. If there is a disagreement over any part of this about sums being pulled back and such, can the Economic Secretary assure me that there will be a proper appeals procedure covering everything?