Head of Google in Europe grilled by UK tax authorities

In this image made from video, Google Vice President Tom Hutchinson, left, and President of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, Matt Brittin, give evidence to the British government Commons Public Accounts Committee in London, Thursday Feb. 11, 2016. The executives are appearing before the government committee following controversial agreements over tax payments by the internet giant. (Image from video / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES In this image made from video, Google Vice President Tom Hutchinson, left, and President of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, Matt Brittin, give evidence to the British government Commons Public Accounts Committee in London, Thursday Feb. 11, 2016. The executives are appearing before the government committee following controversial agreements over tax payments by the internet giant. (Image from video / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES

By Associated Press February 11, 2016 1 min read

LONDON (AP) – A British parliamentary committee has grilled the head of Google in Europe, sharply questioning whether the Internet giant had paid its fair share of taxes.

The hearing comes amid public anger over a tax settlement with U.K. authorities. Public Accounts Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier captured the mood when she accused Google’s Matt Brittan of having “tin ears,” to the complaints about the 130 million pound ($186 million) deal for back taxes in Britain.

Brittan insisted he did understand public anger, and said Google had paid taxes at 20 percent like other companies.

But he invoked Hillier’s fury when he said he didn’t know his own pay package. She countered “Out there, taxpayers, our constituents, are very angry, they live in a different world clearly to the world you live in.”