The islands are neither sovereign states nor part of the United Kingdom, but dependencies of the British Crown.

ECONOMIST: Offshore financial centres

Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey are direct dependencies of the British Crown.

BBC: NEWS | Europe | Guernsey | Islands face tax dodge clampdown

The meetings come two days after Mr Cameron wrote to 10 British overseas territories and crown dependencies, including the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man, urging them to "get their house in order" and sign up to international treaties on tax.

BBC: David Cameron seeking action on tax avoidance at EU summit