CBI Praises Business Tax Forum Selections

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

21 May 2008

Richard Lambert, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Monday praised the quality of the business leaders selected to sit on a new multinational forum on tax by Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and Financial Secretary Jane Kennedy.

The group, to be chaired by Ms Kennedy, includes senior representatives of multinational companies as well as a number of senior economists.

It will discuss ways in which the tax system can provide the long-term certainty that multinational companies need in the face of increased competitiveness and other global challenges facing both business and government.

Membership of the group will comprise: Mr Lambert; Douglas Flint, HSBC Holdings plc; Julian Heslop, GlaxoSmithKline plc; Hanif Lalani, BT Group plc; James Lawrence, Unilever plc; Andrew Shilston, Rolls-Royce Group plc; Dr Byron Grote, BP plc; Nicolas Moreau, Axa (UK) plc; Duncan Tatton-Brown, Kingfisher plc.

The Chancellor has also invited four economists to become forum members. These are: Dr Andrew Mclaughlin, Royal Bank of Scotland Group; Professor Michael Devereux, Said Business School, Oxford; Adam Lent, Trades Union Congress; and Dr Parthasarathi Shome, HM Revenue & Customs.

Commenting earlier this week, the CBI chief announced that:

“I’m encouraged to see the outstanding calibre of the forum members, drawn from some of the best companies in the world. It is an excellent opportunity for policy-makers to tap into their expertise whilst hearing first-hand about the impact of their recent tax strategies."

He concluded: “It is important that the government listens as businesses are prepared to vote with their feet if they feel the UK’s tax or regulatory regime is placing them at a disadvantage. What is needed is a competitive and consistent tax regime which business can have trust in."

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