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The National Audit Office's report on HMRC's work in tackling marketed avoidance schemes fails to address the key issue of resources, the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) said yesterday. ARC is the trade union representing senior HMRC staff and is a part of the FDA - the union for the UK's senior public servants.

ARC President Gareth Hills said: "The NAO's report has a glaring omission - it is wholly silent on the issue of resources to tackle these aggressive tax avoidance schemes. The one sure way to tackle the mountain of open avoidance cases and the lengthy litigation queue would be by investing in HMRC's tax professionals, lawyers and accountants.

"As ARC made clear in its recent evidence to the House of Commons Treasury Sub-Committee, the Government needs to invest in HMRC to ensure avoidance and evasion are effectively countered, both now and in the future."

Notes for editors

1. The Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) is a union representing senior staff in HM Revenue and Customs, including tax inspectors, accountants, lawyers, managers and other leading professionals. ARC represents members in HMRC at grade 7 and above, and also trainees in grade 7 entry schemes. It is also a section of the FDA.

2. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 19,000 of the UK's senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union".

4. ARC's recent evidence to the House of Commons Treasury Sub-Committee can be viewed at: www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=11604&wfl=true

5. For further information contact:

• Gareth Hills, ARC President, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07870 592356.
• Oliver Rowe, FDA Communications Manager, tel: 020 7401 5588 or 07590 838696.