MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
News Release (148/08) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 20
November 2008
Welcoming the Law
Commission's recommendations for change to existing laws on
bribery published today, Government anti-corruption champion and
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:
"Bribery is a cancer which destroys the integrity,
accountability and honesty that underpins ethical standards both
in public life and in the business community.
"The fight against bribery is not an optional extra or a
luxury to be dispensed with in testing economic times.
"Our current law is old, complex and fragmented, as the OECD
also recently pointed out, and the Government is committed to
improving it.
"I am grateful to the Law Commission for undertaking their
thorough review.
"The Government will carefully consider the
Commission's recommendations and build on them to bring
forward a draft bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the next session.
"A new law will provide our investigators and prosecutors
with the tools they need to deal with bribery much more effectively."
Notes to Editors
1. Find the Law Commission's press notice and full report here:
http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/bribery.htm
2. The Law Commission's terms of reference for the Reforming
Bribery review were to consider the full range of structural
options for the law law on bribery with a view to modernisation,
consolidation and reform.
http://www.justice.gov.uk