The UK Government still has not bothered to tell Chief Minister Howard Quayle what it said to the EU about the island’s VAT situation for corporate jets.

Last autumn the European Commission launched infringement procedures over the VAT treatment of corporate jets imported into the EU via the island.

It wrote to the UK Government, giving it two months to respond to the accusation it had not taken sufficient action over ’abusive’ practices in the Isle of Man.

In the House of Keys on Tuesday, Mr Quayle admitted he had not seen that response by the UK Government.

’We have not seen the report yet,’ he said, when pressed on the matter by Kate Beecroft (LibVannin, Douglas South).

The UK was issued the ultimatum on November 8 last year and given two months to reply.

Mr Quayle said: ’We understand that a comprehensive response was provided to the European Commission within this timeframe.’

That means the UK Government responded to the EU by January 8 at the latest - more than five months ago.

When the Paradise Papers revelations were first published in 2017 much attention centred on Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, who was singled out by the BBC’s Panorama after he was accused of not paying VAT on his £16.5 million jet, by taking advantage of an Isle of Man scheme that allowed VAT refunds, sometimes up to 100%.

A separate inquiry revealed VAT funds totalling more than £790m had been paid out to jet leasing companies, including 100% refunds for 231 claims submitted since 2011-12.

The Manx Government called in HM Revenue and Customs to review the island’s practice for VAT on luxury jets and yachts.

Mr Quayle told the House of Keys last week that the UK Treasury, in its spring statement, said it planned to published the findings of its review of the island’s VAT practices ’in the coming months’.

He added: ’We therefore expect to receive the report shortly.’