Press release 18th Nov 2009

Queen's Speech: Bribery Bill

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Dominic Kavakeb 
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Welcoming Government commitment to introduce a Bribery Bill this parliamentary session, Chandrashekhar Krishnan, Executive Director of Transparency International-UK said: “We welcome the inclusion of the Bribery Bill in the Queen’s Speech. This should be a non-partisan issue - it is about restoring Britain's reputation in the world and creating a level playing field for clean resources-resources-businesses.


18 November 2009 - "Given the tight timetable, all political parties must now unite around the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee to ensure an effective Bribery Bill is enacted before the next general election. This would greatly enhance the reputation of the country at a time when Britain's anti-corruption credentials have been battered by the MPs expenses scandal.“

Almost a decade has passed since the Rt Hon Jack Straw, in his capacity as Home Secretary, promised to introduce a law to criminalise foreign bribery to comply with the 1997 OECD Convention on the Bribery of Foreign Public Officials. The UK cannot afford corrupt resources-resources-business practices to harm its resources-resources-business and political reputation further. There is no room for half-measures. TI-UK hopes that the Joint Committee on the Draft Bribery Bill’s recommendations will be adopted in full.