Corruption: Low and Middle-income Countries

Baroness Whitaker Excerpts

Wednesday 29th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government remain committed to reducing the harms of illicit finance on developing countries and to holding those responsible to account. The National Crime Agency’s international corruption unit and international anti-corruption co-ordination centre provide critical assistance to help developing countries trace and recover stolen assets and pursue justice via the UK courts. The Government plan to publish a new anti-corruption strategy, which will set out ambitious actions and reforms in this area.

[Baroness Whitaker (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Oates (LD)]

My Lords, I welcome the Government’s focus on this critical issue. The Minister will be aware of the particular role of the illicit gold trade in fuelling the conflict in Sudan and conflicts elsewhere, and in laundering the proceeds of corruption around the globe. Will the Government, therefore, use their forthcoming illicit finance summit to designate additional sanctions packages against corrupt elites, such as those members of the Zimbabwe gold mafia, who have not yet been sanctioned, and their professional enablers, who launder proceeds from the illicit gold trade through the UK and through the United Arab Emirates?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

As he knows, we do not comment on future designations, but I thank him for reminding us of the role of illicit gold mining, in particular, in this. This is how many billions of dollars are hidden. It is also associated with horrendous abuses of people and all kinds of illicit activities, including criminal activity across borders. I thank him also for reminding the House of our plans to hold a summit next year, and I look forward to his full engagement in that.

[Baroness Whitaker (Lab)]

My Lords, first, I apologise that my interest overran courtesy. Following the speaker’s question, there is already a plan for measures to deal with corruption on an international scale, which, I am sure my noble friend will agree, totally undermines both democracy and our overseas aid. That is the international anti-corruption court. Can the Minister tell us what progress there is on that project?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I suspect that my noble friend Lord Hain is about to ask something along these lines, so I came prepared. The Government are committed to ensuring that those responsible for the most egregious acts of international corruption are prosecuted for their crimes. We are supportive of the ambition to strengthen international mechanisms to hold kleptocrats to account, but are realistic about the geopolitical challenges associated with the proposal for an international anti-corruption court at this time. However, we look forward to considering the draft treaty of the court, which is due later this year.