Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to ensure Overseas Territories establish a public register of beneficial ownership under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This month, as Minister for the Overseas Territories (OTs), I wrote to OT Governments to set out UK transparency expectations.
I noted that full public accessibility remains our expectation. Access filtered to those with 'legitimate interest' should be delivered to a clear timetable, as an interim step.
I also outlined a set of minimum requirements that UK Government would expect to see in any 'legitimate interest' regime.
At the UK-OT Illicit Finance Dialogue earlier this month, Officials discussed this and other priorities. I expect to continue discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council in November.
I am pleased to report that Monserrat announced its delivery of a public register of beneficial ownership on 11 October.