This week's opinion

The publication of a policy paper  The New Budget Timetable and the Tax Policy Making Process is unlikely to set hearts racing but is worth a few minutes’ reflection. The paper discusses the implications of the move to a single fiscal event – the autumn Budget – and how the consultation process will work. Much of what is in the paper is simply a shift in the timetable to reflect the fact that the Budget is in the autumn rather than the spring but one important development should be welcomed. Paragraph 3.1 states: ‘The new tax policy making cycle provides an opportunity to consult more frequently from an earlier stage of policy development. Calls for evidence and early-stage consultations allow open development of policy options and the evidence base within a broad area of the tax system. They are particularly valuable and appropriate where a large-scale reform is...