Sanctions

Treasury written question – answered at on 8 March 2018.

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Photo of Helen Goodman Helen Goodman Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2018 to Question 126717, if he will publish (a) the total value of suspected breaches to each sanctioned country and terrorist group, (b) which banks and financial institutions are suspected of having breached the sanctions; and (c) criminal and other action taken against those responsible for suspected breaches of sanctions.

Photo of John Glen John Glen Minister of State (Treasury) (City), The Economic Secretary to the Treasury

The total value of suspected breaches reported to OFSI in 2017 was approximately £1.4 billion. OFSI does not publish a breakdown of suspected breaches by each sanctioned country and terrorist group.

OFSI does not publish information about individuals or entities suspected to have breached financial sanctions. OFSI assesses all cases of suspected non-compliance with the regulations and takes the appropriate action in each case. Appropriate action may include: taking no further action; issuing a warning letter; using information powers to require the provision of information on how a person who has breached the regulations will improve compliance in the future; using information powers to share information with appropriate regulatory bodies, where that furthers or ensures compliance with the financial sanctions regulations; or referring the most serious cases to law enforcement agencies for criminal investigation. It is a matter for law enforcement to make any referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Government demonstrated its commitment to ensure more robust implementation of financial sanctions by establishing the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) in March 2016 and bringing forward new powers in the Policing and Crime Act 2017 to strengthen enforcement, including the power to impose monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions. Under that Act, the Treasury is required to publish reports about the imposition of monetary penalties when it considers it appropriate. OFSI does not publish reports of compliance actions other than monetary penalties.

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