Revenue's confidentiality oath to stay

Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, has bowed to opposition pressure over controversial plans to scrap a confidentiality oath for Inland Revenue officials.

The proposal under plans to merge the Revenue and Customs would have replaced the oath, which binds officials to keep taxpayers' information private, with a contractual confidentiality requirement.

However Ms Primarolo announced in a Standing Committee debate that she had reversed her decision and would table an amendment during the Bill's report stages.

Andrew Tyrie, the Shadow Paymaster General, said: "I am delighted that the Paymaster General has reversed her decision to abolish the oath of confidentiality for the new Revenue department.

"I was extremely concerned that the removal of the oath could threaten taxpayer confidentiality. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our tax culture in this country and plays a crucial role in assisting compliance with tax demands.

"The Government's U-turn is therefore extremely welcome."