Chief Secretary to the Treasury announces major clampdown on tax avoidance and evasion

Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has announced a £900m attack on tax avoidance and evasion. The additional investment is expected to raise an extra £7bn each year by 2014/15 from those who currently avoid paying their fair share of tax.

The measures were announced in Danny Alexander's speech to Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference.

HMRC will use the extra funding for:

• A more robust criminal deterrent against tax evasion
• The creation of a new dedicated team of investigators to crackdown on offshore evasion
• The creation of bespoke cyber crime teams and online specialists
• More investment in freight and detection technology to prevent alcohol and tobacco smuggling

In his speech, Danny Alexander also told the Liberal Democrat conference that the measures would help make Britain stronger, fairer and more prosperous.

He said: "There are some people who seem to believe that not paying their fair share of tax is a lifestyle choice that is socially acceptable. It is not.

"Like the benefit cheat, their actions take resources from those who need them most.

"Decisions we make in the Spending Review will ensure the taxman has the resources to be ruthless with those often wealthy people and businesses who think they can treat paying tax as an optional extra.

"Tax avoidance and evasion are unacceptable in the best of times but in today's circumstances it is morally indefensible."