HC Deb 22 December 1997 vol 303 cc648-9
8. Mr. Wyatt

If he will make a statement on the Government's plans to create a new, single offence of corruption. [20164]

Mr. Straw

On 9 June, I published a consultative paper on the reform of the law on corruption. A copy is available in the Library.

I shall carefully consider the responses to that paper, to the Law Commission paper on corruption offences and any further recommendations that the Committee on Standards in Public Life may make in relation to the criminal law. I expect to make a further statement on the reform of the law in this area early next year.

Mr. Wyatt

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. When he is considering future changes, will he contemplate holding those data centrally, to facilitate changes in the forthcoming information Act?

Mr. Straw

I see no reason why much of the available information on corruption should not be held centrally. Sometimes information cannot be held centrally because of disproportionate cost, but we shall do our best to comply with my hon. Friend's request.

Mr. Clifton-Brown

Does the Home Secretary agree that the offence of corruption of a Member of Parliament is serious, so the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916 should be amended to include the offence of attempted corruption of a Member of Parliament or any elected representative?

Mr. Straw

There are very strong grounds for proceeding as the hon. Gentleman proposes. I am currently considering responses to the consultative paper that I published earlier in the year; when I have done so, I shall make proposals to the House, and it will be a matter for the House to decide.

Mr. Dismore

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that his proposals for a new offence will take into account the type of corruption that was exposed in the High Court on Friday, when Dame Shirley Porter and others were found guilty of wilful misconduct, which cost £27 million? Will he also join me and the other Labour former Westminster councillors in the House in condemning the Conservative party, which has not said a word against Dame Shirley Porter, although one of those found guilty continues to serve as a Westminster councillor?

Does my right hon. Friend agree with me and the Evening Standard editorial on Friday that Dame Shirley Porter should be stripped of her dameship? In view of the finding of the High Court that Dame Shirley Porter lied to the court, will he refer the matter to the Metropolitan police for investigation as to whether she committed perjury?

Mr. Straw

I not only congratulate but thank my hon. Friend and many other hon. Friends—some now in the House, some now outside—for the courageous 12-year campaign that they waged to expose that corruption. I also say to the Conservative party through you, Madam Speaker, that for years we were told by the Conservative party that it would condemn Lady Porter's behaviour if and when a court found against that behaviour. On Friday 19 December, a three-judge court, led by the distinguished Lord Justice Rose, found against Lady Porter, declared her to be a liar and confirmed the district auditor's conclusions that she had sought to spend public money gerrymandering a large part of Westminster. I now look forward to the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Sir B. Mawhinney) unequivocally condemning that behaviour at the Dispatch Box.