MPs and economic commentators voiced alarm yesterday over legislation that would let tax officers seize cash directly from people’s bank accounts.

The cross-party Treasury committee said it had “considerable concern” over Tory chancellor George Osborne’s plans to give HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) debt collection officers direct access to personal banking accounts.

“Giving HMRC this power without some form of prior independent oversight — for example by a new ombudsman or tribunal, or through the courts — would be wholly unacceptable,” the committee said in a statement.