Heads of government departments and high ranking council officials should be included in the list of “politically exposed persons” who come under extra supervision under new anti money-laundering laws, a parliamentary select committee has been told.

The Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Bill, which is being brought in to comply with international obligations, includes a provision targeting politically exposed persons (PEPs) and their families, as people whose position means the opportunity for money laundering or other corrupt practices is unusually high.