Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes and in particular of countries suspected of money laundering; and how this differs from the UK approach.

The UK is at the forefront of tackling tax evasion and avoidance and ensuring tax transparency internationally. The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes marks an important step in our ongoing efforts on this agenda.

The UK has been working constructively with European partners on the EU list. Finance Ministers endorsed the list at the December Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting.

Separately, the EU has also established, as provided for by Directive 2015/849 (EU), a list of third countries with strategic deficiencies in their national anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regimes that pose significant threats to the financial system of the EU. Within the UK, firms that are regulated through the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 are required to apply enhanced due diligence measures in relation to a business relationship or transaction with any person established in such a country.