§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the use of the Cayman Islands for purposes of tax avoidance and evasion.
§ Mr. RentonNone. The Cayman Islands Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law 1976 provides for banking secrecy, save in respect of matters which are criminal under the provisions of Cayman law.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in the last five years from (a) individuals and (b) Governments concerning (i) the status and (ii) the use of purposes of tax evasion and avoidance of the Cayman Islands.
§ Mr. RentonNone.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all official treaties, documents or agreements entered into between the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. RentonThere have been no official treaties or agreements entered into between the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands in the last 10 years as they are not required in view of the special relationship which exists between the United Kingdom and its dependent territories.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the use of the Cayman Islands for purposes of drug trafficking; and what representations he has received in this respect.
§ Mr. RentonThe Cayman Islands, in common with other territories in the Caribbean, are used irregularly by drug traffickers as transhipment points between the producing countries of Central and South America and the USA. We and the Cayman Islands Government, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the region, are determined to prevent these abuses. No representations have been received on this matter. But in July 1984 we signed an agreement with the United States to enable the United States authorities to obtain documentary evidence in Cayman relating to offences connected with the traffic in drugs.