Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Excerpts

Committee stage
Monday 14th March 2022 Lords Chamber

The Government have said they will review the whole whistleblower framework at some point, but we need that flow of information to be coming in as rapidly as possible, particularly in this crisis time, when we have the Russian invasion of Ukraine. If we take the actions that make it possible for whistleblowers to speak out and provide that information, although we can never fully eliminate the risks, we can go an awfully long way towards that. I know there is no chance of getting it incorporated into this legislation, but I would really like the Government to onboard the importance of it and make sure that it is in the economic crime Bill part II.

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

My Lords, I rise very briefly to make my first contribution in Committee on these two very important amendments. Both were very comprehensively introduced by the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer.

As a former journalist, I reflect on how protecting your sources is something that is drummed into you from a very early stage in your career. However, one thing I have observed over 20-plus years as a journalist is how much more complex this has become. Having been an editor at the Guardian Media Group, I know what difficulties there are in trying to protect sources these days. That is on the technical side of things. But, as the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, said, there is also the issue of how torrid a time some people have had even when whistleblowing about what you might describe as ordinary and mainstream companies. We have seen that with people who have exposed safety and financial issues. With some of the people we are looking to target here, it is crucial that there is the security of knowing that, if information comes out and others seek to prosecute, uncover and expose them, there will be a group looking after the whistleblower. The noble Baroness has made a very important point.

[Lord Agnew of Oulton (Con)]

I support the amendment of the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer. I accept that it is unlikely to go into this Bill, but I very much hope that it will go into mark 2.

I do not share the somewhat Panglossian view of my noble friend the Minister that this whole crime issue is a tiny issue. There is a wall of bad money out there trying to get in, and we have been far too complacent. The Transparency International report of 2018 looked at the BVI and found over 1,100 companies involved in 200 major frauds to the value of tens of billions of pounds. This was just one territory.

Whistleblowers are a vital source of information and intelligence. The noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, is right in saying that we do not recognise them nearly enough in this country. I will not go on further, save to ask the Minister replying that she will take back this issue and ensure that it is plumbed into the next Bill.