look at sir ken dodd, for example. there we re at sir ken dodd, for example.ambiguities of behaviour at knotty ash. that didn't stop him from getting a knighthood. ido stop him from getting a knighthood. i do think the system should honour those who have done service in these fields in this way. the documents do not mention any names. but loads of people have raised questions about why these people have not received honours in the past for the reasons outlined. one suggestion is that some of them have invested in schemes that are entirely lawful but nonetheless people have said it is an attempt to reduce the amount of tax you pay. what about the argument that it tax you pay. what about the argument thatitis tax you pay. what about the argument that it is right to do this because tax affairs can subsequently become controversial, and that can actually bring the honours system into disrepute? absolutely right, no doubt. equally if the honours system is concerned about it being brought into disrepute, why did we get david cameron's resignation honours list featur

the warnings given are time—limited which may explain why ken dodd was knighted last year before he diedas prosecuted and later acquitted for tax evasion in 1989. the system may also shed light on why other celebrities appear to have been overlooked. i think it is only reasonable that every precaution is taken by the honours system that it isn't brought into disrepute, but that should certainly not debar high profile individuals who have achieved an enormous amount in a particularfield, and also for charity, from not being honoured if they have done nothing unlawful. the government said it was a matter of long—standing policy that departments including hmrc were invited to contribute to the honours nomination process to protect the system's integrity. i'm joined now by fiona fernie — a partner at the accounting and tax advisory firm blick rothenberg. these thank you forjoining us. these thank you forjoining us. these arrangements, this particular arrangement isn't new. why do you think we are talking about it now? simply because the times have been able to get this information under a fr