" Other Matters MG [Mrs Graham] said at various times during the meeting Mr While had mentioned that he had received a large sum of money in respect of damages for wrongful dismissal and asked for further information regarding these. Mr While said he received£354,000 in October 1998 and although initially on legal aid he had had to pay some of this money back in expenses. MG asked what had happened to the money and whether he had a financial stake in Essential Mortgages [the business with which he had commenced employment in 1999]. Mr While said no money was invested in this company and explained that the£345,000 was accounted for as follows:£150,000 as payment against mortgage arrears£90,000 to the Inland Revenue£20,000 to Barclays Bank£17,000 to clear his overdraft approximately£3000 -£4000 to American Express MG said she understood that there was still a substantial amount owed to the Inland Revenue – arrears being dealt with by Enforcement Office – Mr While said that he had paid off all the capital and was awaiting confirmation of the interest – adding that he had received contradictory figures."
“… the omission to do something which a reasonable man, guided upon those considerations which ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, would do, or doing something which a prudent and reasonable man would not do.”
“… the question whether a taxpayer has engaged in negligent conduct is a question of fact in each case. We should take the words of the statute as we find them and not try to articulate principles which could restrict the application of the statutory words. However, we accept that negligent conduct amounts to more than just being wrong or taking a different view from the Revenue.”