This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22476233

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Osborne: G7 agree to target tax evasion and avoidance Osborne: G7 agree to target tax evasion and avoidance
(35 minutes later)
The G7 group of industrialised nations have agreed that there must be collective action against tax evasion and avoidance, the UK's finance minister has said.The G7 group of industrialised nations have agreed that there must be collective action against tax evasion and avoidance, the UK's finance minister has said.
Chancellor George Osborne said after the talks that it was "incredibly important" that firms and individuals paid the tax they owed.Chancellor George Osborne said after the talks that it was "incredibly important" that firms and individuals paid the tax they owed.
The members agreed on more policy issues than had been assumed, he added.The members agreed on more policy issues than had been assumed, he added.
The G7 comprises the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, Italy, France and Canada.The G7 comprises the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, Italy, France and Canada.
In a news conference held jointly with Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King, Mr Osborne said the countries, meeting in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. had also agreed it was important to ensure that no bank was "too big to fail".In a news conference held jointly with Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King, Mr Osborne said the countries, meeting in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. had also agreed it was important to ensure that no bank was "too big to fail".
Tax avoidance
"We must put regimes in place... to deal with failing banks and to protect taxpayers and to do so in a globally-consistent manner," he said."We must put regimes in place... to deal with failing banks and to protect taxpayers and to do so in a globally-consistent manner," he said.
The issue of tax avoidance had been raised by Britain, Germany and other big countries earlier this year.The issue of tax avoidance had been raised by Britain, Germany and other big countries earlier this year.
They asked the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - which advises rich nations on tax policy - to examine possible changes to address the problem of multinational companies using transfer pricing rules to shift profits into tax havens.They asked the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - which advises rich nations on tax policy - to examine possible changes to address the problem of multinational companies using transfer pricing rules to shift profits into tax havens.
BBC News correspondent Joe Lynam said the latest talks were an important step towards a new global standard on tax. BBC business correspondent correspondent Joe Lynam said the latest talks were an important step towards a new global standard on tax.
Britain wants all EU countries to sign up to a pilot scheme where tax authorities share information with each other, our correspondent said, including low tax countries such as Luxembourg and Austria. Britain wants all EU countries to sign up to a pilot scheme where tax authorities share information with each other, including low tax countries such as Luxembourg and Austria, our correspondent said.
Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK and US are currently signed up to the scheme. Luxembourg has said it will join too, but Austria has yet to confirm if it will take part.Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK and US are currently signed up to the scheme. Luxembourg has said it will join too, but Austria has yet to confirm if it will take part.
Mr Osborne also said that British territories, including the tax havens Jersey and the Cayman Islands, need to play more of a part in trying to put a stop to tax evasion.
"Of course you have to respect that many of these territories have important industries and we don't want to unnecessarily damage them," he said.
"But it is necessary to collect tax that is owed and it is necessary to reduce tax avoidance and the crown dependencies and the overseas territories need to play their part in that drive and they need to do more."
The chancellor said the discussions had "reaffirmed that there are still many challenges to securing sustainable global recovery, and we can't take it for granted".The chancellor said the discussions had "reaffirmed that there are still many challenges to securing sustainable global recovery, and we can't take it for granted".
But he added: "We are committed as the advanced economies in playing our part in nurturing that recovery and ensuring a lasting recovery so that we have prosperity in all our countries."But he added: "We are committed as the advanced economies in playing our part in nurturing that recovery and ensuring a lasting recovery so that we have prosperity in all our countries."
Prior to the meeting, Mr Osborne had said the group still wielded "major economic firepower" as they represented around half the global economy between them - although the larger G20 was now the "primary economic forum for setting the global rules of the game".Prior to the meeting, Mr Osborne had said the group still wielded "major economic firepower" as they represented around half the global economy between them - although the larger G20 was now the "primary economic forum for setting the global rules of the game".
There had been talk ahead of the meeting that Japan would be criticised for a massive stimulus plan that had pushed down the value of its currency, the yen.There had been talk ahead of the meeting that Japan would be criticised for a massive stimulus plan that had pushed down the value of its currency, the yen.
But Japan was not censured during the talks, despite some countries being concerned that Tokyo is engineering an export-led recovery that could hinder other regions' ability to grow.But Japan was not censured during the talks, despite some countries being concerned that Tokyo is engineering an export-led recovery that could hinder other regions' ability to grow.
Mr Osborne said the G7 had reaffirmed its commitment made in February that its "fiscal and monetary policies have been and will remain orientated towards meeting" its members' respective domestic objectives and "will not target exchange rates".Mr Osborne said the G7 had reaffirmed its commitment made in February that its "fiscal and monetary policies have been and will remain orientated towards meeting" its members' respective domestic objectives and "will not target exchange rates".
The chancellor faced pressure recently over the pace of the UK's austerity measures.The chancellor faced pressure recently over the pace of the UK's austerity measures.
Last month, the International Monetary Fund's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, reiterated his belief that the chancellor should slow down the pace of the cutbacks.Last month, the International Monetary Fund's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, reiterated his belief that the chancellor should slow down the pace of the cutbacks.
But on Saturday, Mr Osborne said that while the UK's economic situation was difficult, "we are making progress and the economy is healing".But on Saturday, Mr Osborne said that while the UK's economic situation was difficult, "we are making progress and the economy is healing".