§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that (i) Article 2 and (ii) Article 6 of the European Convention on the Fight against Corruption are enforced in United Kingdom law; and which agency will have the task of(a) investigation and (b) prosecution of offences under these articles. [83569]
§ Mr. BoatengArrangements are underway for the United Kingdom to ratify the European Union Corruption Convention in September this year. The Convention does not give rise to the need for legislation in the United Kingdom.
Alleged offences of active or passive corruption of the kind referred to in Articles 2 and 6 of the European Union Corruption Convention are investigated primarily by the police whose role is to investigate offences which are committed within United Kingdom jurisdiction. Prosecutions are carried out by the usual prosecuting authorities, which in the main will be the Crown Prosecution Service. These procedures will continue in force following the ratification of the European Union Corruption Convention.