Requiring large multinationals to publish sales, profit and corporate tax data by operating country has been a campaign objective of many development NGOs. The argument put is that only with more information about a group’s activities can the public assess whether the group is making a ‘fair’ tax contribution.

Public country-by-country reporting in the UK came a little closer when the government decided to accept a Finance Bill amendment put forward by Caroline Flint MP, supported by most of the members of the Public Accounts Committee.