§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list (1) the countries signing the OECD/Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Tax Information between countries, which is intended to reduce tax avoidance, and (2) the countries with which Britain already has bilateral tax agreements which allow for the transfer of such information; and whether any so-called "tax-haven" countries are included in either list.
1654WA
§ Lord Young of GraffhamNo country has yet signed the OECD/Council of Europe Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.
The UK currently has double taxation treaties containing exchange of information provisions with the following countries:—
Antigua, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany (Federal Republic), Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guernsey, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland (Republic of), Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Republic of), Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rornania, St Christopher & Nevis, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South West Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, USSR, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Notice of termination has been given in respect of the treaties with Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.
There is no standard definition of a "tax haven" country to enable an answer to be given to the final part of the Question.