Green's appointment as an efficiency
adviser would have been politically sensitive at any time, but the fact that it coincided with the announcement of a new crackdown on tax
avoidance by Nick Clegg was particularly embarrassing.
The consultation, published today
by HM Revenue & Customs, says that
advisers — including lawyers, banks and accountancy companies — whose tax
avoidance schemes are defeated in court may have to pay up to 100 % of the tax avoided in fines.