MP hits out over corruption

WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has criticised the government for cutting the Serious Fraud Office’s budget at a time when it is claiming to be committed to reducing corruption.
Ms Jones has called on the government to improve its approach to tackling corruption with co-ordinated policies and implementation of last year’s Bribery Act.
She was speaking during International Development questions in the Commons.
Ms Jones said: “Preventing corruption in international aid programmes is very important and I am concerned that the government is sending out mixed messages. I have worked closely on international aid issues since becoming an MP and I know many people in Warrington North take a close interest in how Britain helps some of the poorest people in the world.
“I wanted to ask the Minister why his government is cutting the Serious Fraud Office’s budget by 50 per cent if it is committed to reducing corruption. The head of anti-corruption has already left the SFO and I am concerned that this will make it harder to ensure that corruption is being challenged and bribery stamped out.
“The government has delayed bringing in the Bribery Act that was introduced by the Labour Government. This legislation will help tackle the threat that bribery poses to economic progress and development around the world and the government needs to explain why it has delayed its introduction and only recently published guidance on how the legislation will operate.”