Government to encourage tax avoidance?

[David Johnson]

There is a story in a number of the newspapers today that the NHS private providers such as Circle are demanding that they have a level playing field with the NHS in terms of bidding for contracts.

Currently the NHS does not pay corporation tax or VAT. THe NHS private company providers are arguing they should be exempted from these so that there is a level playing field from the point of view of competition for contracts.

THe coalition government has already asked Monitor, the NHS's economic regulator set up by Lansley to ensure competition is fair, to look at this issue.

A "source" quoted in the newspapers states that they have seem a draft of the final review and that Monitor is sympathetic to the private sector demands.

Now this may well not occur. Politically it would be like Cameron putting a gun to his head and pressing the trigger. Having said that, the mere fact that Monitor, a government body has been asked to look at this and allegedly is in favour produces a What the Fuck reaction.

It's definitely a wait and see on this but if this ever surfaces then I can see a real !shitstorm! !shitstorm! !shitstorm!

[David Johnson]

Just had a look at the subject entry I chose and it sounds like a heading from a tabloid newspaper.

SHould have put something more appropriate like NHS providers ask for corp. tax. exemption

Apologies.