Spotlight on the Bribery Bill
After twelve years of false starts on modernising our anti-corruption law – and several bribery scandals - the UK is finally poised to remove the deficiencies that stand in the way of meeting its international obligations.
On 19th November the Government introduced a Bribery Bill. This Bill has now left the House of Lords and was introduced to the House of Commons on 9th February. The second reading took place on 3rd March. Following the Public Bill Committee stage the Bill will now be passed to 'wash-up' whereby the Whips of all parties will discuss legislation that has not yet received Royal Assent. TI-UK urges the Bill's swift enactmentat of the Bribery Bill as amended in Public Bill Committee in the House of Commons.
The Bribery Bill has been thoroughly debated and probed in both Houses. During any ‘wash-up’ process, TI-UK believes amendments that have not been accepted in either House should not be re-introduced and issues that have already been deliberated upon exhaustively should not be re-opened. TI-UK believes amendments that would weaken the Bill’s key provisions should be strongly resisted.
Documents and Media
Read TI-UK's briefing 29 March to Whips
Read TI-UK's Briefing for the second reading in the House of Commons (9th February)
Read Transparency International UK's briefing for Grand Committee stage in the House of Lords. This covers the marshalled list of amendments.(5 January)
Read TI-UK's Briefing on the Bribery Bill for the 2nd Reading in the House of Lords (1 December)
Read the Bribery Bill as presented on 19 November 2009
Video: TI-UK’s evidence to the joint parliamentary scrutiny committee
Transcript of TI-UK’s evidence to the joint parliamentary scrutiny committee
Read the report from the joint parliamentary scrutiny committee