Critics underwhelmed at Queen's speech
The Queen's speech today at the state opening of parliament lasted just seven minutes and left many commentators underwhelmed at the government's plans for economic reform ahead of the next general election.
Continued...
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"Just" 9 new bills
It is I think a common fallacy that the quality of a government is measured by the quantity of legislation that it generates (and for those who may remain in doubt, "more" supposedly means "better"). "Just" nine new bills? Thank heavens for that.
With kind regards
Clint Westwood
Bribery Bill
Let's hope the Bribery Bill becomes law before the election.
The existing law relating to bribery and corruption is a hotch-potch of antiquated legislation: The Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889, The Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and The Prevention of Corruption Act 1916 are the key statutes. All three are due to be repealed and replaced by up to date legislation to be contained in the new Bill.
The updating of the law in this area has been under active consideration since 1995 and there have been Law Commission reports and a couple of draft Bills in the intervening years.
Hopefully a consensus has now been reached and the new Bill will move reasonably swiftly to Royal Assent next year.
There will be four major classes of offence under the new Bill: offering / paying a bribe; accepting / agreeing to a bribe; bribing a foreign official; and (for a commercial organisation) negligently failing to prevent the paying of a bribe.
Maximum penalties are expected to be: for a commercial organisation - an unlimited fine; for an individual - 10 years imprisonment.
(There is a bit more on this topic in the 'Money Laundering and Crime' discussion group.)
David