While leaders of the rich world have been meeting to discuss the economic crisis, a British aid agency has highlighted the way in which derisory tax rates deprive poor countries of billions in lost revenue.

The men at the helm of the UK’s ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms may be boardroom Titans, but few outside the profession have heard of them. Christian Aid hopes that is all about to change, however, with its latest call to action for its supporters

The extent to which mining companies routinely deprive African countries of huge amounts of tax revenue that could be used to combat poverty is revealed in two reports published yesterday.

Church groups are demanding that Gordon Brown closes legal loopholes used by the super-rich to avoid tax.