Question

To ask the Prime Minister, when (a) his Department and (b) the Cabinet Office has held meetings with business organisations to discuss the operation of the Bribery Act 2010 and that Government guidance on the Act since January 2015.

Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of my meetings are published on a quarterly basis and are available on the gov.uk website.

As part of the Bribery and Corruption Enforcement review, which began in January 2015, officials from the Cabinet Office have consulted a wide range of stakeholders to assess the impact of bribery and corruption enforcement on business, including the Bribery Act 2010 and related guidance. This has involved consultations with business, as well as practitioners, academics and civil society, to ensure that their expert views were captured in the review. Terms of reference for the review are available on the gov.uk website.

I have appointed my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar, Sir Eric Pickles, to be the government's anti-corruption champion. He took up his post in June, since which time he has had a series of introductory meetings, including with law enforcement and non-governmental agencies. Further meetings, including with business organisations, are planned to take place over the coming weeks.