Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, with other European Union member states with regard to registers of beneficial ownership of companies being made publicly available.

The Government fought hard and successfully for the implementation of central registers of company beneficial ownership information for all European Union Member States under the 4th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive. All regulated businesses under the Directive, as well as people and organisations able to demonstrate ‘legitimate interest’ will also be granted access to this information.

Countries will be able to go further, as the UK is, and make their central registers publicly accessibly. We are working to encourage EU partners to match the UK’s ambition as Member States transpose the Directive into national law.