Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Economic Crime

Monday 25 April 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tackling economic crime is a key Government priority.
  • The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 was expedited to combat Russian dirty money and corrupt elites in the UK.
  • A new dedicated kleptocracy cell in the National Crime Agency has been established to target economic crime.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The Department has taken steps to tackle economic crime, including the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. A significant case involved GPT Special Project Management fined £28 million for bribery.

Question

What recent steps her Department has taken to tackle economic crime?

Answer from Damian Hinds

Tackling economic crime is a key Government priority. We have expedited legislation—the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022—to crack down on Russian dirty money and corrupt elites in the UK. We have also set up a new dedicated kleptocracy cell in the National Crime Agency to target sanctions evasion and corrupt assets hidden in the UK.

Answered
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Q2 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

GPT Special Project Management was fined £28 million for bribery, with a key whistleblower, Ian Foxley, facing 11 years without income due to lack of employment opportunities. The case highlights the need for improved whistleblower protections.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that if we want to crack economic crime, we must incentivise whistleblowers to come forward and protect them when they do? Will he listen carefully what my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mary Robinson) says tomorrow in introducing her 10-minute rule Bill?

Answer from Damian Hinds

My hon. Friend is right about the value of whistleblowers, who should be able to come forward without fear of recrimination. We have continued to improve the whistleblowing framework, including by extending eligibility for protections and introducing a reporting requirement for prescribed persons—the bodies to whom people can make a whistleblowing disclosure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to listen to Mary Robinson's bill on whistleblower reform.

How: Will Meet To Discuss Further

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