§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the incorporation into UK legislation of the OECD convention on bribery and corruption. [12909]
§ Mr. BlunkettI have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom ratified the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) convention in December 1998 and a review of its legislation was published by the OECD in 2000. The Government's White Paper "Raising Standards and Upholding Integrity: the Prevention of Corruption", issued in June 2000 (Cm 4759), took account of that review and made two major proposals which reflect OECD recommendations:
to put beyond doubt that the law of bribery applies to acts involving foreign public officials. Ministers, MPs and judges; and to take jurisdiction over crimes of bribery committed by United Kingdom nationals and United Kingdom companies overseas.International corruption contributes to the conditions which breed terrorism. I am, therefore, with the support of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, including these measures in the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill, which will be introduced shortly.