UK Public and Private Anti-Corruption Initiatives

The following section describes the key public and private business-relevant anti-corruption initiatives initiated by organisations in the UK.

Anti-Corruption Champion

For two years, the UK government has undertaken a concerted programme of action to coordinate and to improve our anti-corruption systems through annual anti-corruption action plans. This programme has been driven forward by Ministerial Anti-Corruption Champions, with Justice Secretary Jack Straw appointed to this Cabinet-level role in October 2008.

The UK is currently developing a comprehensive strategy for tackling foreign bribery. This strategy will build on the solid foundation we have established through the anti-corruption action plans and will strengthen our work with international partners, establishing a clear legal, regulatory and policy framework.

Law reform is the critical to implementing this strategy and the UK government has committed to bring forward a draft Bribery Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in Parliament during the 2008/9 session. This draft Bill will be informed by the recommendations of the November 2008 Law Commission report 'Reforming Bribery'.

DFID

Corruption undermines the fight against poverty and the Department for International Development (DFID) cannot wait until developing countries are free of corruption before getting engaged. The first thing we can do is to make sure our money is properly used. As well as ensuring that the aid we give is used for its intended purpose, we are working to address both the underlying causes of corruption and the international factors that allow it to flourish.

We have a zero tolerance approach to the misuse of DFID funds and issue guidance on DFID's Fraud and Anti Corruption Policy to staff. We are also committed to getting value for money for the UK taxpayer. In cases where we cannot be sure that governments are committed to human rights, poverty reduction or good public financial management, we do not provide direct financial aid. In instances where aid is being provided and we are unhappy with how it is being used, we can and do withhold funds.

The standard Terms and Conditions attached to all DFID contracts over £25,000 contain firm Anti Corruption Clauses and other clauses that allow DFID to immediately disassociate itself from any company found guilty of serious charges under the relevant Acts."

Action will also be taken to recover any funds that have been lost. Similarly, funding may be recovered, and future funding withheld from partner governments where arrangements for preventing or detecting fraud and corruption fail to improve.

DFID staff found to have been involved in fraudulent and corrupt activity or to have been negligent in the exercise of supervisory duties will be subject to disciplinary and, where appropriate, criminal proceedings.

ECGD

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) recognises that bribery and corruption distorts competition and investment, hinders free and fair trade, and represents an unacceptable cost to business. Through the information it provides, the declarations in its applications forms and its due diligence procedures, ECGD aims to:

• deter illegal payments, corrupt practices and money laundering by applicants for ECGD's support; and
• ensure, as far as is practicable, that all transactions that ECGD supports are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and international agreements to which the UK is a party

UKTI

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is committed to helping tackle and reduce the bribery and corruption exposure of UK companies overseas. UKTI provides advice and support on how to trade internationally, but does not make commercial judgements for a company. In providing businesses with tailored support to help them achieve success, UKTI provides advice on bribery and corruption where it is appropriate and relevant.

UKTI's Training Unit offers a package of training support to reflect the needs of its staff and customers. This incorporates specific reference to bribery and corruption overseas as well as the wider issues of Corporate Social Responsibility. Together with its parent departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), UKTI distributes the UK Bribery and Corruption Law Leaflet and continues to conduct a range of awareness-raising activities in the UK business community. Awareness-raising in the English regions is delivered through UKTI teams of International Trade Advisors and the Tradeshow Access Programme, while overseas awareness-raising is delivered through UKTI commercial teams on UK Overseas Posts.

A UKTI policy team is also available to offer advice to staff on the issue of bribery and corruption; i.e. what they need to do if they become aware of specific instances and how these should be reported to the appropriate UK law enforcement authorities.