Regulation
The Ministry of Justice has said that it has not been allowed to spend a penny explaining the Bribery Act, a key new piece of corporate legislation, to businesses in the UK.
The British Chambers of Commerce criticised the move for creating additional burdens on business owners, who will now have to find other ways to become informed.
The Bribery Act , which comes into force in April, introduces tougher penalties for individuals and companies involved in corruption.
The new offence of "failure to prevent bribery" will make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) responsible for ensuring the compliance of any agent or contractor connected with their businesses - irrespective of where they are in the world.
Adam Marshall, the BCC's policy director, said: "The Bribery Act will have massive implications for businesses, particularly small businesses, which do not have the capacity to put together complicated compliance measures."
He noted that the government's decision not to spend money explaining the act was in contrast with the pound(s)800,000 spent last year outlining changes to the national minimum wage.
The Ministry of Justice said the spending freeze was not limited to the Bribery Act since all but "essential marketing and advertising activity" had been stopped. A spokesperson insisted that the department had worked hard to ensure the Bribery Act was understood by businesses, and SMEs without using taxpayers' money.
"During a two-month public consultation on the act, we reached more than 1,000 business people during a series of talks around the UK," the spokesperson said. "These events were well attended and incurred no costs."
Barry Vitou, a partner at law firm Winston & Strawn who has co-authored a website, www.thebriberyact.co. uk , said companies needed to check their compliance procedures, but that much of the new law was common sense.
Credit: By Jonathan Moules
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