Posted on 2013-09-30 | 09:37

Roger has tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to tackle the one in five tax havens worldwide which are under UK jurisdiction.

Developing countries lose three times more money to tax dodging than they receive in aid each year. This money would be enough to tackle AIDS, provide a basic education for the 72 million children who do not currently go to school, and end hunger twice over.

The EDM, which has received cross-party support, calls on the Government to push for international agreement and action on tax havens, to ensure that developing countries are able to access the tax revenues which are rightfully theirs and use them to fight poverty.

Roger says: “Multinational companies which operate and make profits in the UK should not remain unchallenged about their use of tax havens, which drain money from developing countries which desperately need it. The Government could insist on a culture of transparency by requiring all companies operating in the UK to file full accounts and declare their profits made and taxes paid all around the world, not only in the UK. Why will the Government not require this?”

Roger is calling on the UK to take action for tax justice by clamping down on those tax havens which are under its own jurisdiction. The tax regime currently in place in British Overseas Territories including the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man allows them to be used by wealthy individuals and companies to avoid and evade tax that should go to tacklepoverty and provide vital public services in the UK and around the world.

Roger says: “My constituents have written to me because they are worried that the UK Government is not doing enough to challenge the use of tax havens around the world, with devastating consequences for millions of people who are living in poverty. I am urging the Government to take action now on the tax havens which are under UK jurisdiction.”

You can read Roger’s EDM here.