Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-05-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department’s news story of 10 April 2016, UK launches cross-government taskforce on the Panama Papers, how many full-time equivalent staff from each agency have been allocated to that taskforce; and whether any staff in that taskforce (a) have the power of arrest, (b) are authorised to access directly the contents of Suspicious Activity Reports, (c) are able to request data on companies incorporated in foreign countries and (d) have powers to fully investigate any allegations of (i) non-compliance with sanctions, (ii) money laundering and (iii) terrorist financing.

Mr David Gauke

There are upward of 100 people currently involved in the multi-agency Taskforce. The number of officers holding each different power is not recorded centrally. Each taskforce member agency has its own statutory powers, networks, functions and confidentiality restrictions. By drawing on these powers and networks, the taskforce will be more effective than any single agency acting independently.