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Written Question
Political Exposed Persons: Bribery and Money Laundering
Monday 7th August 2023

Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people are designated as politically exposed persons in the UK; and how many relevant convictions for money laundering and/or bribery offences there have been since the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 were enacted.

Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions and convictions for money laundering and/or bribery offences in the Outcomes by Offence data tool including offences as set out in the Offence Group Classification. This can be found via the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

However, it is not possible to establish whether the defendant is a member of the House of Lords or House of Commons, as this information is not held centrally in the Courts Proceeding Database. This information may be held on court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs. The Government does not maintain a register of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and does not hold information on how many PEPs have been investigated, prosecuted, or convicted in relation to money laundering or bribery.

The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 require businesses within the regulated sector (such as banks) to treat individuals who are entrusted with prominent public functions as PEPs, including members of a country’s legislative body. The Financial Conduct Authority provides guidance to businesses within the regulated sector on which customers should be regarded as PEPs under the Money Laundering Regulations, and how a proportionate risk-based based approach to these customers should be applied.


Written Question
Political Exposed Persons: Bribery and Money Laundering
Monday 7th August 2023

Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many family members of those members of (1) the House of Lords, and (2) the House of Commons, who are designated as politically exposed persons within the terms of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and its successor legislation have been (a) investigated, (b) prosecuted and, (c) convicted in relation to offences of money laundering or bribery in each of the past five years.

Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions and convictions for money laundering and/or bribery offences in the Outcomes by Offence data tool including offences as set out in the Offence Group Classification. This can be found via the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

However, it is not possible to establish whether the defendant is a member of the House of Lords or House of Commons, as this information is not held centrally in the Courts Proceeding Database. This information may be held on court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs. The Government does not maintain a register of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and does not hold information on how many PEPs have been investigated, prosecuted, or convicted in relation to money laundering or bribery.

The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 require businesses within the regulated sector (such as banks) to treat individuals who are entrusted with prominent public functions as PEPs, including members of a country’s legislative body. The Financial Conduct Authority provides guidance to businesses within the regulated sector on which customers should be regarded as PEPs under the Money Laundering Regulations, and how a proportionate risk-based based approach to these customers should be applied.


Written Question
Political Exposed Persons: Bribery and Money Laundering
Monday 7th August 2023

Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of (1) the House of Lords, and (2) the House of Commons, designated as politically exposed persons within the terms of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and its successor legislation have been (a) investigated, (b) prosecuted and, (c) convicted in relation to offences of money laundering or bribery in each of the past five years.

Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions and convictions for money laundering and/or bribery offences in the Outcomes by Offence data tool including offences as set out in the Offence Group Classification. This can be found via the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

However, it is not possible to establish whether the defendant is a member of the House of Lords or House of Commons, as this information is not held centrally in the Courts Proceeding Database. This information may be held on court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs. The Government does not maintain a register of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and does not hold information on how many PEPs have been investigated, prosecuted, or convicted in relation to money laundering or bribery.

The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 require businesses within the regulated sector (such as banks) to treat individuals who are entrusted with prominent public functions as PEPs, including members of a country’s legislative body. The Financial Conduct Authority provides guidance to businesses within the regulated sector on which customers should be regarded as PEPs under the Money Laundering Regulations, and how a proportionate risk-based based approach to these customers should be applied.