Clause 60

Part of Finance Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:30 pm on 16 June 2009.

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Photo of Stephen Timms Stephen Timms Financial Secretary (HM Treasury) (also in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) 12:30, 16 June 2009

I do not think that that is an accurate description of what has happened. For example, we have had a debate about principles-based legislation in relation to the Bill, and a very clear statement has been included in it about the intended principles. We had a debate about whether uncertainty was being created by that, so I do not think that the general direction described by the hon. Gentleman is right. However, in the case under discussion, the clause will apply to avoidance schemes only. There may well need to be a motive test in a case in which there might be a risk of inappropriate  application, but there is no such risk in this particular case. It is a fair result in all cases, so there is no need for the test to be added.