CIOT voices concerns over 'rushing' of Finance Bill

Date: 19th March 2010

There is not enough time in the political calendar to draw up a properly scrutinised Finance Bill, it has been claimed.

According to the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), the dates of the forthcoming Budget and general election mean there will be little time to dedicate to the Bill.

With the Budget scheduled for March 24th and the general election expected on May 6th, the CIOT has warned that the Bill could well be rushed through in a single day.

The organisation has now written to chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling urging him not to hastily put through "substantial tax changes" without proper parliamentary scrutiny.

Andrew Hubbard, CIOT president, said: "The CIOT strongly believes that good tax law requires close examination and detailed scrutiny, from parliamentarians and from outside experts.

"In particular this is to ensure that the legislation does not have unintended negative consequences. A Finance Bill rushed through all its stages in a single day does not allow for this - especially in the final days of a parliament when most MPs' minds will, understandably, be elsewhere."