Ed Balls asks George Osborne whether selective prosecutions by HMRC were approved by the TreasuryGeorge Osborne has come under fresh pressure from Labour to explain his knowledge of the conduct of HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary and the extent to which the Treasury was aware that HMRC had decided to take a light-touch approach to seeking prosecutions for those suspected of tax evasion.Labour is frustrated that the chancellor has avoided questions on the issue for a week, while both Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have been repeatedly pressed on relatively trivial issues such as whether they kept tax receipts for a window cleaner. Osborne spent Tuesday at a meeting of the European finance ministers Ecofin discussing the Greek eurozone crisis. Continue reading...