Suspension of penalties during currency of agreement for deferred payment

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

I do not want to pass clause 107 without commenting briefly on what it will do. The clause will ensure that penalties and surcharges for late payment of tax will not be charged to those who anticipate temporary payment difficulties and contact HMRC before the penalty or surcharge becomes due. They will be able to agree a time to pay their tax.

I am enormously proud that as a Government we have provided real help to companies in financial difficulties. Since 24 November 2008, when the HMRC business payment support package was introduced, we have agreed time to pay for more than 130,000 businesses, helping them to defer more than £2.6 billion worth of tax. The clause will help HMRC to support businesses with temporary payment difficulties. I wanted to note it because it is an important clause.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 107 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 108 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule 57 agreed to.