Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Serious Fraud Office is perceived as a fully independent body in investigations of foreign bribery cases.
Answered by Robert Buckland
In all cases, decisions to investigate are made by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office who acts independently. The Protocol between the Attorney General and the Prosecuting Departments sets out the relationship between the Director, the Law Officers and the Government of the day and safeguards prosecutorial independence. A copy of the protocol can be found at; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protocol-between-the-attorney-general-and-prosecuting-departments
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether he has conducted a public interest consultation exercise or sought ministerial representations on the public interest in relation to the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into GPT Special Project Management Ltd.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General and I meet the Director frequently to discuss a variety of issues. However, as was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s policy to provide details of all such meetings.
The Serious Fraud Office announced in August 2012 that the Director had opened a criminal investigation into allegations concerning GPT and aspects of the conduct of their business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however it would not be appropriate to give a running commentary on the progress of current investigations.
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether the Serious Fraud Office has sought his assistance with securing evidence from the Ministry of Defence in relation to its investigation into GPT Special Project Management Ltd.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General and I meet the Director frequently to discuss a variety of issues. However, as was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s policy to provide details of all such meetings.
The Serious Fraud Office announced in August 2012 that the Director had opened a criminal investigation into allegations concerning GPT and aspects of the conduct of their business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however it would not be appropriate to give a running commentary on the progress of current investigations.
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many meetings staff from the Serious Fraud Office have had with officials of the Ministry of Defence in relation to its investigation into GPT Special Project Management Ltd; and on what dates those meetings took place.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General and I meet the Director frequently to discuss a variety of issues. However, as was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s policy to provide details of all such meetings.
The Serious Fraud Office announced in August 2012 that the Director had opened a criminal investigation into allegations concerning GPT and aspects of the conduct of their business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however it would not be appropriate to give a running commentary on the progress of current investigations.
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether any representations have been made to him or to the Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) stating that the public interest would be served by entering into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement in relation to the SFO's investigation of GPT Special Project Management Ltd.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General and I meet the Director frequently to discuss a variety of issues. However, as was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s policy to provide details of all such meetings.
The Serious Fraud Office announced in August 2012 that the Director had opened a criminal investigation into allegations concerning GPT and aspects of the conduct of their business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however it would not be appropriate to give a running commentary on the progress of current investigations.