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Jeremy Hunt's statement to MPs on junior doctors' dispute - Politics live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
12.05pm GMT | |
12:05 | |
Hunt said the process has “uncovered deep seated concerns about morale, well-being and quality of life” and he cites separation from spouse and families on placements and inadequate support from seniors. | |
He has asked Dame Sue Bailey to lead a review into measures outside the contract that will improve morale. | |
12.04pm GMT | |
12:04 | |
Hunt says the government’s “door remained open” for three years and said the departments showed a willingness to negotiate time and again. | |
But he said it was imperative both sides demonstrated flexibility and compromise. “The BMA proved ultimately unwilling to do that.” | |
He refers to eight studies on weekend death rates, and said that six pointed to inadequate staffing levels. | |
Hunt said he is confident that the new contract is “one that in time can commend the confidence of workforce and employers.” | |
11.59am GMT | |
11:59 | |
Hunt says those working one in four or more Saturdays will receive a pay premium of 30%. It does represent a reduction in current rates, because hospitals must be able to afford additional weekend restoring. | |
The government will also give doctors a basic pay rise of 13.5%. | |
11.57am GMT | |
11:57 | |
Hunt will impose contract on junior doctors | |
Hunt pays tribute to the chief negotiator, Sir David Dalton, who he said has reached agreement on 90% of issues. | |
But Sir David and NHS England’s chief executive, Simon Stevens had asked him to end the uncertainty, and Hunt said he has decided to do that today. | |
Updated | |
at 12.06pm GMT | |
11.55am GMT | |
11:55 | |
Jeremy Hunt in the House of Commons | |
I’m switching now to cover Jeremy Hunt’s statement on the junior doctors’ contract in the House of Commons, he’s expected to impose the contract on the doctors this summer. | |
11.54am GMT | |
11:54 | |
Labour MP Caroline Flint asks why HMRC hasn’t applied any penalties to Google for non-payment of tax over the last five years. | |
It is very difficult to argue they have taken insufficient care, even if they have come to the wrong conclusion in their accounting, Harra said. | |
Flint says that the lawyers and tax experts of Google have “out- manoeuvred” HMRC and says there is “considerable public anger”. | |
Updated | |
at 11.54am GMT | |
11.51am GMT | |
11:51 | |
Lin Homer is going back to the letter sent last night to the committee. The letter contained taxpayer-confidential information, she said, which they needed Google permission to make public. She insists the information was intended to be aired in the committee. | |
The SNP’s Deirdre Brock said the committee does not need the exact numbers. What they need to know is, is every business treated the same, even small shops in her constituencies? | |
It is exactly the same process, Brock said, though admits the average length of an investigation is 22 months so “this was a long one”. | |
11.45am GMT | |
11:45 | |
Jim Harra, HMRC’s Director General for Business Tax says he does not have a figure for how much the six-year investigation into Google has cost the taxpayer. | |
Obviously, us conducting a six year audit is a very expensive and resource intensive process which, obviously, I wish we didn’t have to do. | |
They do not usually take six years. It is a new area of the economy. [For companies like Google] their scale and business model and ways their customers behave change all the time. we can’t just look at one year and extrapolate that to other year. | |
It was long, resource-intensive and pain-staking. | |
Updated | |
at 11.45am GMT | |
11.42am GMT | |
11:42 | |
Up next is HMRC’s turn to be probed over the tax arrangment with Google, and corporate tax deals more generally. | |
In front of the committee is Dame Lin Homer, chief executive and permanent secretary, Jim Harra, director general of business tax and Edward Troup, tax assurance commissioner. | |
Hillier reveals that the committee received a letter yesterday offering some confidential background information about the HMRC and Google deal. | |
Homer admits that letter was co-ordinated with Google, offering to share more information about the deal with the PAC. | |
Hillier said the approach was disappointing. | |
We want answers about this in public, so taxpayers hear the answers too. Last minute, confidential information does not help that. We want to talk openly and honestly. | |
I don’t need to remind you that you are public servants. I was disappointed with that approach. | |
Updated | |
at 11.43am GMT | |
11.36am GMT | |
11:36 | |
Here’s some reaction from the Twitter-sphere about the Google executives in front of the PAC. | |
"If you are so keen on this tax reform, why don't you lead by example" #googletax | |
Bonkers of Google to pretend that *its* tax complexity is a function of tax rules. It's a function of Google's choices. | |
What we have discovered PAC/Google: 10 year deal - taxes £112m, interest £18m, Google says it's "fair", UK tax structure stays the same | |
David Mowat on PAC asks Google if their employees are proud of them not paying more tax. Ridiculous idealistic nonsense | |
11.34am GMT | 11.34am GMT |
11:34 | 11:34 |
PAC concludes questioning Google | PAC concludes questioning Google |
Hillier concludes by calling on the company to be more transparent. | Hillier concludes by calling on the company to be more transparent. |
Why don’t you lead by example to provide more information to the general public and to other countries? | Why don’t you lead by example to provide more information to the general public and to other countries? |
If you want your staff to be proud, if you want to do good in the world, then why can’t you tell the ordinary British taxpayer how your settlement was reached? | If you want your staff to be proud, if you want to do good in the world, then why can’t you tell the ordinary British taxpayer how your settlement was reached? |
Hutchinson said no company has ever provided as much detail on a tax settlement as Google, but he cannot say more because it is commercially sensitive. | Hutchinson said no company has ever provided as much detail on a tax settlement as Google, but he cannot say more because it is commercially sensitive. |
11.30am GMT | 11.30am GMT |
11:30 | 11:30 |
Back at the PAC, Richard Bacon MP is still pressing the Google executives on the exact pre-tax profit of Google of which 19% tax was paid. | Back at the PAC, Richard Bacon MP is still pressing the Google executives on the exact pre-tax profit of Google of which 19% tax was paid. |
I’m trying to express myself clearly. You paid tax at 19%, which must be 19% of something. You have said several times that you pay it at 19%. | I’m trying to express myself clearly. You paid tax at 19%, which must be 19% of something. You have said several times that you pay it at 19%. |
You answer that by saying that is spread over 5 years. I can’t understand why you don’t know that. I don’t understand why you don’t have that figures now. I’m very surprised you don’t know it. | You answer that by saying that is spread over 5 years. I can’t understand why you don’t know that. I don’t understand why you don’t have that figures now. I’m very surprised you don’t know it. |
11.26am GMT | 11.26am GMT |
11:26 | 11:26 |
While I’ve been focussed on the Google evidence at the select committee, Chris Bryant, the shadow leader of the house, has been asking an urgent question on short money in the House of Commons, relating to the funding of political parties. | While I’ve been focussed on the Google evidence at the select committee, Chris Bryant, the shadow leader of the house, has been asking an urgent question on short money in the House of Commons, relating to the funding of political parties. |
He called George’s Osborne’s plans to cut the funding of state grants to opposition political parties by 19% as “shabby”. | He called George’s Osborne’s plans to cut the funding of state grants to opposition political parties by 19% as “shabby”. |
Bryant said Commons Leader Chris Grayling had failed to turn up for three meetings yesterday on the issue. | Bryant said Commons Leader Chris Grayling had failed to turn up for three meetings yesterday on the issue. |
Why, frankly, isn’t the Leader of the House doing his proper job and standing at the despatch box today? | Why, frankly, isn’t the Leader of the House doing his proper job and standing at the despatch box today? |
What’s the word for this behaviour? Is it shabby, tawdry or just downright cynical? | What’s the word for this behaviour? Is it shabby, tawdry or just downright cynical? |
Here’s the report from the Press Association of the exchange between Bryant and Cabinet Office Minister John Penrose. | Here’s the report from the Press Association of the exchange between Bryant and Cabinet Office Minister John Penrose. |
Replying to an urgent question from Labour, Cabinet Office Minister John Penrose told MPs a consultation will start “shortly”. | Replying to an urgent question from Labour, Cabinet Office Minister John Penrose told MPs a consultation will start “shortly”. |
Opening his remarks, Mr Bryant quoted previous Conservative comments objecting to opposition parties being under-resourced at a time when spending has increased on taxpayer-funded special advisers. | Opening his remarks, Mr Bryant quoted previous Conservative comments objecting to opposition parties being under-resourced at a time when spending has increased on taxpayer-funded special advisers. |
He said: “In opposition the Prime Minister said he would cut the number and cost of special advisers, yet in Government he has appointed 27 more special advisers than ever before and the cost has gone up to the taxpayer by 2.5 million a year. | He said: “In opposition the Prime Minister said he would cut the number and cost of special advisers, yet in Government he has appointed 27 more special advisers than ever before and the cost has gone up to the taxpayer by 2.5 million a year. |
“There’s a word for that Mr Speaker but it’s not parliamentary.” | “There’s a word for that Mr Speaker but it’s not parliamentary.” |
“In opposition, the Conservatives banked 46 million a year in short money but in Government they want to cut short money by 20% for the Opposition. | “In opposition, the Conservatives banked 46 million a year in short money but in Government they want to cut short money by 20% for the Opposition. |
“There’s a word for that Mr Speaker but it’s not parliamentary. | “There’s a word for that Mr Speaker but it’s not parliamentary. |
“How can it be right for the Government to cut the policy development grant for political parties by 19% when it’s not cutting the amount of money spent on special advisers of its own? | “How can it be right for the Government to cut the policy development grant for political parties by 19% when it’s not cutting the amount of money spent on special advisers of its own? |
“Surely history has taught us that an overweening executive is always a mistake. | “Surely history has taught us that an overweening executive is always a mistake. |
“Surely if a party in Government needs financial support in addition to the civil service then it’s in the national interest that all the opposition parties should be properly resourced as well.” | “Surely if a party in Government needs financial support in addition to the civil service then it’s in the national interest that all the opposition parties should be properly resourced as well.” |
Mr Byrant said the Government has been briefing journalists that its proposals will be published on Friday - when Parliament is in recess. | Mr Byrant said the Government has been briefing journalists that its proposals will be published on Friday - when Parliament is in recess. |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.27am GMT | at 11.27am GMT |
11.21am GMT | 11.21am GMT |
11:21 | 11:21 |
Hutchinson says Google is paying what they think is a “reasonable” amount of tax - 19%. Mowat said if that is the case, why do they book sales in Ireland, channel business through the Netherlands and Bermuda? | Hutchinson says Google is paying what they think is a “reasonable” amount of tax - 19%. Mowat said if that is the case, why do they book sales in Ireland, channel business through the Netherlands and Bermuda? |
If we did have our UK office selling directly to UK customers, that would be a change in our structure, but would not change that the tax rules require you pay tax in the UK relating to the value of the profits generated in the UK? | If we did have our UK office selling directly to UK customers, that would be a change in our structure, but would not change that the tax rules require you pay tax in the UK relating to the value of the profits generated in the UK? |
Is Tom Hutchinson from @Google honestly saying they'd pay the SAME tax in the UK if they had a permanent establishment here? Really?? #pac | Is Tom Hutchinson from @Google honestly saying they'd pay the SAME tax in the UK if they had a permanent establishment here? Really?? #pac |
11.17am GMT | 11.17am GMT |
11:17 | 11:17 |
Tory MP David Mowat concedes Google has paid “probably the right amount of tax” given its exceptionally complex tax structures. | Tory MP David Mowat concedes Google has paid “probably the right amount of tax” given its exceptionally complex tax structures. |
But he says it is not the correct moral course. | But he says it is not the correct moral course. |
You use Ireland, Holland, Bermuda. Doesn’t it bother you some of your employees might bail out over that? | You use Ireland, Holland, Bermuda. Doesn’t it bother you some of your employees might bail out over that? |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.17am GMT | at 11.17am GMT |
11.15am GMT | 11.15am GMT |
11:15 | 11:15 |
Hutchinson said it was not a negotiated tax settlement. | Hutchinson said it was not a negotiated tax settlement. |
There was not a number that was thrown out by HMRC and we negotiated it down. That is not the way the process worked. | There was not a number that was thrown out by HMRC and we negotiated it down. That is not the way the process worked. |
Bacon said the row is ruining the reputation of the internet giant. | Bacon said the row is ruining the reputation of the internet giant. |
This is staining your reputations. You have chosen to take very complex routes. You can’t like the fact that lots of people hate you because of this. Why don’t you face up to that? | This is staining your reputations. You have chosen to take very complex routes. You can’t like the fact that lots of people hate you because of this. Why don’t you face up to that? |
Brittin said they cannot pay more than the government demands of them. | Brittin said they cannot pay more than the government demands of them. |
We have reached the end of a lengthy independent process. At the end of the process, the HMRC told us exactly the right amount to pay and we are paying it. We have just finished an intensive review with tax specialists where they decided this is the right amount to pay. | We have reached the end of a lengthy independent process. At the end of the process, the HMRC told us exactly the right amount to pay and we are paying it. We have just finished an intensive review with tax specialists where they decided this is the right amount to pay. |
We believe we are [paying the right amount] because this is what we are asked to pay. | We believe we are [paying the right amount] because this is what we are asked to pay. |
11.09am GMT | 11.09am GMT |
11:09 | 11:09 |
An extraordinary response to a question from Tory MP Richard Bacon. | An extraordinary response to a question from Tory MP Richard Bacon. |
Can you tell me the number on which you paid tax at 20%? | Can you tell me the number on which you paid tax at 20%? |
Brittin said he does not have the profit numbers in front of him. Hutchinson said he also does not have the exact numbers of how much tax was paid in the UK. Bacon himself uses a calculator to work out the profits on activities in the UK - around £230m. | Brittin said he does not have the profit numbers in front of him. Hutchinson said he also does not have the exact numbers of how much tax was paid in the UK. Bacon himself uses a calculator to work out the profits on activities in the UK - around £230m. |
Why did it take you take six years - as long as the second world war - to explain your activities adequately to HMRC? Are you saying it’s HMRC’s fault for being so slow. Either you’re bad at explaining or they are very thick at understanding. | Why did it take you take six years - as long as the second world war - to explain your activities adequately to HMRC? Are you saying it’s HMRC’s fault for being so slow. Either you’re bad at explaining or they are very thick at understanding. |
Brittin said HMRC interviewed people at Google “from top-to-bottom” to try to understand the way the business operates. | Brittin said HMRC interviewed people at Google “from top-to-bottom” to try to understand the way the business operates. |
It’s incredible that it takes six years to explain what the internet is, Bacon said. | It’s incredible that it takes six years to explain what the internet is, Bacon said. |
11.02am GMT | 11.02am GMT |
11:02 | 11:02 |
Tom Hutchinson has repeatedly insisted the company’s tax arrangements in Bermuda have no impact on the tax paid in the UK. | Tom Hutchinson has repeatedly insisted the company’s tax arrangements in Bermuda have no impact on the tax paid in the UK. |
Jolyon Maugham QC, a barrister specialising in tax, says this cannot possibly be the case. | Jolyon Maugham QC, a barrister specialising in tax, says this cannot possibly be the case. |
Bermuda *does* have an impact on tax paid in the UK. Without the Bermuda tax haven Google would have no incentive to avoid UK taxes. | Bermuda *does* have an impact on tax paid in the UK. Without the Bermuda tax haven Google would have no incentive to avoid UK taxes. |
11.00am GMT | 11.00am GMT |
11:00 | 11:00 |
There is robust laughter in the room as Brittin attempts to suggest that Ireland is a good base for Google because of the numbers of languages spoken by staff. | There is robust laughter in the room as Brittin attempts to suggest that Ireland is a good base for Google because of the numbers of languages spoken by staff. |
“Not for tax reasons?” Mowat says. Brittin admits favourable tax arrangements were one of the reasons, as well as lower property prices and good internet connections across the Atlantic. | “Not for tax reasons?” Mowat says. Brittin admits favourable tax arrangements were one of the reasons, as well as lower property prices and good internet connections across the Atlantic. |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.00am GMT | at 11.00am GMT |
10.58am GMT | 10.58am GMT |
10:58 | 10:58 |
Conservative MP David Mowat mockingly said it is “laudable” that Google says it wants a simpler tax system, but says the company cannot blame the UK for having a complex system because its company has a complex structure. | Conservative MP David Mowat mockingly said it is “laudable” that Google says it wants a simpler tax system, but says the company cannot blame the UK for having a complex system because its company has a complex structure. |
It wasn’t us who decided to say all our sales were booked in Dublin. It wasn’t us that decided that the ways you were going to choose to operate by using ‘the double Irish’. | It wasn’t us who decided to say all our sales were booked in Dublin. It wasn’t us that decided that the ways you were going to choose to operate by using ‘the double Irish’. |
You tell us you want a transparent system. Yet you use the double Irish, you use the Dutch Sandwich, you use Bermuda. | You tell us you want a transparent system. Yet you use the double Irish, you use the Dutch Sandwich, you use Bermuda. |
Your argument is everyone else does it so we do. | Your argument is everyone else does it so we do. |
10.55am GMT | 10.55am GMT |
10:55 | 10:55 |
Tom Hutchinson, Google’s head of tax, is adamant that it is the tax system, not the company, which is to blame for the current row. | Tom Hutchinson, Google’s head of tax, is adamant that it is the tax system, not the company, which is to blame for the current row. |
He’s clearly not exactly enjoying his time in front of the committee. | He’s clearly not exactly enjoying his time in front of the committee. |
I would love to see the system be more simple so we won’t have to come to meetings like this and explain it, but we need the governments to work together and develop an overall worldwide system. | I would love to see the system be more simple so we won’t have to come to meetings like this and explain it, but we need the governments to work together and develop an overall worldwide system. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.55am GMT | at 10.55am GMT |
10.49am GMT | 10.49am GMT |
10:49 | 10:49 |
Tax came up from 'time-to-time' in meetings with ministers, Google admits | Tax came up from 'time-to-time' in meetings with ministers, Google admits |
Flint draws attention to more than 20 meetings which Google had with ministers over the past five years and asks if the tax question “ever came up”. | Flint draws attention to more than 20 meetings which Google had with ministers over the past five years and asks if the tax question “ever came up”. |
Brittin says there has been no political involvement in the deal with HMRC. Flint and Hillier says that is not the question. Brittin says they have never sought a meeting with government over tax deals. Again, Flint said, that is not the question. | Brittin says there has been no political involvement in the deal with HMRC. Flint and Hillier says that is not the question. Brittin says they have never sought a meeting with government over tax deals. Again, Flint said, that is not the question. |
I’m sure, given the scrutiny, we’ve had that the tax issue will have come up from time to time. You’d be surprised if you didn’t given the scrutiny. | I’m sure, given the scrutiny, we’ve had that the tax issue will have come up from time to time. You’d be surprised if you didn’t given the scrutiny. |
Google and government had informal chats about their tax arrangements. Wonder what was said? | Google and government had informal chats about their tax arrangements. Wonder what was said? |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.51am GMT | at 10.51am GMT |
10.43am GMT | 10.43am GMT |
10:43 | 10:43 |
Caroline Flint is speaking now. She asks about the remaining £112m paid in tax, because the other £18m was interest, and asks if any fines were paid. Hutchinson says not. | Caroline Flint is speaking now. She asks about the remaining £112m paid in tax, because the other £18m was interest, and asks if any fines were paid. Hutchinson says not. |
Flint asks if Google thinks it is a fair settlement. Hutchinson says he thinks it is, after an extensive audit. “It was higher than we paid on returns,” he said. | Flint asks if Google thinks it is a fair settlement. Hutchinson says he thinks it is, after an extensive audit. “It was higher than we paid on returns,” he said. |
“So, why weren’t you paying it in the tax years during that six-year period?” Flint said. | “So, why weren’t you paying it in the tax years during that six-year period?” Flint said. |
It’s a good question, Hutchinson admitted, to some murmurings in the room. | It’s a good question, Hutchinson admitted, to some murmurings in the room. |
Flint says the public will be incredulous. | Flint says the public will be incredulous. |
The public tuning into this will be asking themselves, how can a massive company like Google, with all the expertise that it hires, how can HMRC not, in real time, tackle the problems of how you pay your tax? | The public tuning into this will be asking themselves, how can a massive company like Google, with all the expertise that it hires, how can HMRC not, in real time, tackle the problems of how you pay your tax? |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.44am GMT | at 10.44am GMT |
10.37am GMT | 10.37am GMT |
10:37 | 10:37 |
'We have never paid a larger settlement than the one we just agreed to' | 'We have never paid a larger settlement than the one we just agreed to' |
Brittin said the reports were just statements by politicians in those countries, “politicians who would like to see tax paid in proportion to sales”, rather than actual deals. | Brittin said the reports were just statements by politicians in those countries, “politicians who would like to see tax paid in proportion to sales”, rather than actual deals. |
Hutchinson goes further, and says the British tax settlement is the highest ever paid. | Hutchinson goes further, and says the British tax settlement is the highest ever paid. |
Those are articles that are not based on facts. I can say, we have never paid, as part of an audit outside the US, we have never paid a larger settlement than the one we just agreed to. | Those are articles that are not based on facts. I can say, we have never paid, as part of an audit outside the US, we have never paid a larger settlement than the one we just agreed to. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.37am GMT | at 10.37am GMT |
10.31am GMT | 10.31am GMT |
10:31 | 10:31 |
Tom Hutchinson, Google’s head of tax, repeats Brittin’s point that profits Google makes from UK customers are related to the value created outside the UK, the technology of the Google search engine. | Tom Hutchinson, Google’s head of tax, repeats Brittin’s point that profits Google makes from UK customers are related to the value created outside the UK, the technology of the Google search engine. |
Look at the value of the substance of the values for services in the UK, what would you pay a third party? That’s what we did doing our tax returns, HMRC came back and argued that should be a higher amount, that’s what we ended up paying. | Look at the value of the substance of the values for services in the UK, what would you pay a third party? That’s what we did doing our tax returns, HMRC came back and argued that should be a higher amount, that’s what we ended up paying. |
Jackson asks him whether it is true that Google have had “involved” discussions with Italy and France over their tax affairs, which Hutchinson refuses to comment on. It has been reported the web giant is set to pay the French government more than three times what it has paid HMRC. | Jackson asks him whether it is true that Google have had “involved” discussions with Italy and France over their tax affairs, which Hutchinson refuses to comment on. It has been reported the web giant is set to pay the French government more than three times what it has paid HMRC. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.36am GMT | at 10.36am GMT |
10.25am GMT | 10.25am GMT |
10:25 | 10:25 |
Stewart Jackson, Conservative MP, called Google’s press release about how it had agreed to pay £130m in back taxes “a dead cat strategy”, | Stewart Jackson, Conservative MP, called Google’s press release about how it had agreed to pay £130m in back taxes “a dead cat strategy”, |
“You knew that would put pressure on the Treasure and HMRC,” he said. | “You knew that would put pressure on the Treasure and HMRC,” he said. |
Stewart Jackson accuses Google of using tax press release as a "dead cat". Dead cats have definitely jumped the shark. | Stewart Jackson accuses Google of using tax press release as a "dead cat". Dead cats have definitely jumped the shark. |
He also calls the article Brittin wrote in the Telegraph, on reformation of international tax, as Google posing as “a disinterested observer”. | He also calls the article Brittin wrote in the Telegraph, on reformation of international tax, as Google posing as “a disinterested observer”. |
You have made a choice to avoid tax, and you have set up structures specifically to do so. I think there’s an element here of we are doing the UK taxpayer a favour by paying tax. | You have made a choice to avoid tax, and you have set up structures specifically to do so. I think there’s an element here of we are doing the UK taxpayer a favour by paying tax. |
Quite frankly, if i hadn’t disclosed between 2005 to 2015 all the circumstances of my income I would be in trouble with HMRC. Why are you different? | Quite frankly, if i hadn’t disclosed between 2005 to 2015 all the circumstances of my income I would be in trouble with HMRC. Why are you different? |
Brittin said the audit was a way for HMRC was to understand “the nature of internet business”. | Brittin said the audit was a way for HMRC was to understand “the nature of internet business”. |
He says the heart of the matter for income tax is place where “value is created.” | He says the heart of the matter for income tax is place where “value is created.” |
Most of the value is created by the search, which is developed and built in the US, some is created by the marketing but most by the search. There are 20,000 engineers in the US, and 1,000 in the UK. | Most of the value is created by the search, which is developed and built in the US, some is created by the marketing but most by the search. There are 20,000 engineers in the US, and 1,000 in the UK. |
The rules require you to pay your tax based on the economic value creation. | The rules require you to pay your tax based on the economic value creation. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.26am GMT | at 10.26am GMT |
10.13am GMT | 10.13am GMT |
10:13 | 10:13 |
Google’s Brittin says he wants to clarify the most recent tax bill that attracted the negative attention. | Google’s Brittin says he wants to clarify the most recent tax bill that attracted the negative attention. |
He says that of the £130 million it paid in back taxes, £18 million was interest and the rest is tax. | He says that of the £130 million it paid in back taxes, £18 million was interest and the rest is tax. |
Brittin is asked the cost of Google’s new base in Kings Cross, which he says has cost around £1bn. He insists that despite the size and cost of the building, the global operation’s headquarters are still based in Ireland. | Brittin is asked the cost of Google’s new base in Kings Cross, which he says has cost around £1bn. He insists that despite the size and cost of the building, the global operation’s headquarters are still based in Ireland. |
“Frankly you are taxing already my patience and the patience of the hard-working taxpayer out there,” Hillier says. | “Frankly you are taxing already my patience and the patience of the hard-working taxpayer out there,” Hillier says. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.16am GMT | at 10.16am GMT |