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Treasury releases death tax dates Treasury releases death tax dates
(about 1 hour later)
The Treasury has released a list of dates when ministers discussed the changes to inheritance tax rules announced in the pre-Budget report. The government has released a list of dates when it discussed changing the inheritance tax rules, amid claims the policy was "stolen" from the Tories.
That change, to make married couples' allowances transferable, came in the wake of favourable opinion polls over Tory proposals on the death tax. Plans in the pre-Budget report to make couples' allowances transferable came in the wake of favourable opinion polls over Tory proposals on the death tax.
David Cameron has suggested Gordon Brown "stole" the Tories' policy. That timing led David Cameron to accuse Gordon Brown of "stealing" the idea.
The Treasury says the plan was looked at from January, with final proposals asked for by ministers on 5 September.The Treasury says the plan was looked at from January, with final proposals asked for by ministers on 5 September.
That was three weeks before the Conservative Party conference at which shadow chancellor George Osborne set out proposals to increase the inheritance tax threshold from £300,000 to £1m.That was three weeks before the Conservative Party conference at which shadow chancellor George Osborne set out proposals to increase the inheritance tax threshold from £300,000 to £1m.
Final proposalsFinal proposals
However the Treasury statement, which was said to be in response to a Freedom of Information request, does not release the documents detailing the discussions.However the Treasury statement, which was said to be in response to a Freedom of Information request, does not release the documents detailing the discussions.
So while it is known that advice on changing inheritance tax was sent to Treasury ministers on 6 March, it is not known whether that advice was favourable - or why it was not included in the Budget shortly afterwards.So while it is known that advice on changing inheritance tax was sent to Treasury ministers on 6 March, it is not known whether that advice was favourable - or why it was not included in the Budget shortly afterwards.
I think it's pretty clear from this document that the Treasury had been planning to reform Inheritance Tax ... as long ago as January this year Gordon Brown's spokesman
Likewise the Treasury reveals that new Chancellor Alistair Darling was sent the same advice on 27 July, that on 20 August he confirmed it was being considered for the pre-Budget report and that he asked for final proposals to be drawn up on 5 September.Likewise the Treasury reveals that new Chancellor Alistair Darling was sent the same advice on 27 July, that on 20 August he confirmed it was being considered for the pre-Budget report and that he asked for final proposals to be drawn up on 5 September.
But none of those documents has been released - on the grounds that to do so would inhibit discussion in future policy making processes.But none of those documents has been released - on the grounds that to do so would inhibit discussion in future policy making processes.
The reasons not to release the full documents outweighed "public interest in promoting greater transparency in the process of tax reform". 'Look me in the eye'
The documents were released after exchanges in the Commons on the Queen's Speech on Tuesday when the Conservative leader challenged the prime minister to "look me in the eye and tell me that you were planning to reform inheritance tax before our party conference".
Mr Brown responded: "The answer is yes - unequivocally yes ... All the records will show it."
Speaking on Thursday, his official spokesman said: "This makes clear there was a series of interactions between Treasury officials and Treasury ministers over a period of time."
He added: "I think it's pretty clear from this document that the Treasury had been planning to reform Inheritance Tax along the lines of the announcement in the pre-Budget report as long ago as January this year."
But asked why the full discussion documents had not been released, he said: "Ministers and officials must be able to conduct rigorous and candid risk assessments of their policies and programmes.
"This process could be weakened if information was released, as officials could in future be less candid in expressing their views or testing policy options."