Oral Answers to Questions

Jack Brereton Excerpts

Thursday 13th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney General]

As the hon. and learned Lady knows, the Government’s position throughout was that the case involved a hypothetical question. It does raise an important matter of constitutional principle as to whether courts should be able to be seized of issues under live debate in Parliament, when Parliament does not ask for an opinion, simply in order to inform debate. The Government took the view that the matter was hypothetical—we still do—but the truth of the matter is that the ECJ has ruled and we are where we are.

[Jack Brereton (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Con)]

5. What support he is providing to the (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) Serious Fraud Office to tackle economic crime.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

6. What support he is providing to the (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) Serious Fraud Office to tackle economic crime.

[The Solicitor General (Robert Buckland)]

The Government are committed to tackling economic crime, and we know that that requires a multi-agency response. That is why both the SFO and the CPS play their parts alongside others, including through their support for the new multi-agency National Economic Crime Centre.

[Jack Brereton]

What assessment has been made of the UK’s ability to tackle money laundering?

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is right to raise that issue, and I was glad to see the recent financial action taskforce report, which reflected substantial progress and referred to the world-leading role that the UK plays in the fight against illicit finance, particularly the risk of money laundering.