The Government must take action to prevent UK-based mining companies avoiding tax in some of the poorest parts of the world where they operate, MPs demanded today…The Business Select Committee, in a major report…said more must be done to stamp out the practice of shifting profits to low-cost tax havens…Adrian Bailey, chairman of the committee, said mining companies contributed to the UK through taxes, dividends and employment, “but reports of poor practice around the world are a cause for concern and give extractive industries a bad name”. The committee recommended an index to track the social responsibility of mining companies…The committee criticised how long it had taken the UK to sign up to the international Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative…make up for it, the UK should become a “beacon” for best practice, the committee urged. [Also refers to: ENRC]