The recommendation came as part of a wide-ranging report by the UK's International Development Committee
LONDON (TrustLaw) – British lawmakers have urged the government to publish an annual anti-corruption report in order to publicise the steps it has taken to reduce international graft.
Their recommendation came as part of a wide ranging two-volume report on financial crime and development, published on Wednesday by the UK’s International Development Committee (IDC).
“There is a need to inform the public about the investigation and prosecution of transnational financial crimes,” the report said.
“We recommend that the government publish an annual anti-corruption report, which lists what the government is doing to combat international corruption, including transnational financial crimes,” the report added.
In addition to making a number of policy recommendations, the report focused heavily on the IDC’s inquiry into a settlement between BAE Systems and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The settlement ended a six-year probe into the defence giant’s activities in Tanzania by the UK anti-corruption agency.
As part of the settlement, BAE admitted in December 2010 to failing to keep proper records of payments to an adviser in Tanzania. The defence giant was fined £725,000 ($1.1 million) by a London court and agreed to pay £29.5 million ($46 million) for the “benefit of the people of Tanzania”.
BAE has always denied bribery, and agreements it struck did not say it had made any corrupt payments.
The report also quoted the Tanzanian High Commissioner as saying that his government intended to “ensure that those individuals involved in this case face justice” - a statement the IDC’s chair, Malcolm Bruce, hailed.
“I welcome the Tanzanian government's plans to bring individuals to court to answer allegations that corrupt payments were made as part of a multi-million pound deal with BAE Systems,” Bruce said in a statement.
“We will continue to monitor developments in relation to proceedings against individuals in Tanzania,” he added.
The IDC in July strongly criticised BAE for delaying the payment to Tanzania that it had promised to make as part of its settlement with the SFO.
While condemning BAE’s lack of action, the IDC’s report said that the fault lay in part with the loose wording of the settlement and that future agreements should be more tightly worded.
“The agreements should be explicit about what those involved are required to do and include a timetable for the actions required of the company,” the report concluded.
BAE confirmed in September that it was ready to make the payment to Tanzania in full.
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