Kevin Watkins, executive director of the Overseas Development Institute, said: 'The summit has made some important achievements. The Asset Recovery Programme sends an important signal and the UK property market is now exposed to greater transparency.

'David Cameron deserves credit for demonstrating leadership, both in convening the summit and in taking practical steps to curtail corruption. However, the tax havens have again left an international summit with their cloak of secrecy intact.

'Allowing the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and others to operate without full public registries opens the door to tax evasion, money laundering and corruption. The offshore heist will continue to hamper efforts to deliver health, education and jobs to some of the world's poorest countries.

'It is vital that governments now force offshore centres to establish public registries.'

Kevin Watkins is available for interview. For more information or to arrange an interview please contact James Rush on 07808 791265 or email [email protected]