UK: Disappointment at delayed implementation of UK Bribery Act
Commenting on today's announcement by Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke, Secretary of State for Justice, that implementation of the Bribery Act will be delayed until April 2011, and that there will be a “short consultation exercise” on the content of official guidance, Chandrashekhar Krishnan, Executive Director of Transparency International UK said:
'While guidance will be helpful for companies by clarifying some grey areas, it is extremely disappointing that the Government has chosen to delay implementation of the Bribery Act. Meanwhile, the victims of corporate bribery, usually the poorest people in the poorest countries, will continue to suffer. There is absolutely no reason that effective guidance could not have been published in time for the Act to commence in 2010. The danger is that under the guise of consultation attempts may be made by those who want to pursue 'business as usual' to water down the Bribery Act. Having made positive noises about the need to ensure British aid and development spending is not wasted through corruption, the coalition Government is in danger of undermining its own policy. The jury is now out on its commitment to fighting corruption.'
In the absence of the long-promised official guidance from the Government, on Thursday 22 July Transparency International UK will publish its own guidance on the Bribery Act to allow companies to get a 'head start' in tightening up their anti-corruption procedures.
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