Extract from Defence
Questions: Dreadnought Submarines
Mrs (Mid Derbyshire)
(Con): The Dreadnought submarine programme is important
to my constituents, many of whom work at the Rolls-Royce
Raynesway facility which is building the pressurised water
reactors that will go into those submarines. Rolls-Royce has been
investing very heavily in the new facility to meet the demands of
this programme. When will the Government make a decision?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
(Harriett Baldwin): My hon. Friend is absolutely right
to highlight the fact that companies not just in
Barrow-in-Furness but up and down this country are involved in
carrying out highly skilled work in this incredibly elaborate
programme. I had the pleasure of visiting Raynesway and her
nearby constituency and I know how many people in Derby and in
Derbyshire depend on that programme. I can assure her that we are
making substantial investment in the site.
To read all the exchanges, CLICK
HERE
Extract from Lords
oral question on Anti-corruption Strategy
(CB): My
Lords, the Minister will know that four senior executives from
Barclays Bank are facing criminal prosecution for wrongdoing that
took place in the financial crisis of 2008, and that this is the
first such prosecution. The director of the Serious Fraud Office,
whom I hope the Minister will confirm will remain in his place,
has repeatedly called for reform of UK law on criminal corporate
liability to make it easier to prosecute private companies
involved in wrongdoing. Could the Minister tell the House when
the Government intend to reform the UK’s very weak laws on
corporate liability, so that companies can be held to account for
actions that facilitate money laundering of the proceeds of
corruption?
(Con):
I cannot give a substantive reply to the noble Baroness, but I
would like to write to her. I think I am right in saying that
recently, companies have been prosecuted. For example, I think
that Rolls-Royce as a company entered into a deferred prosecution
agreement and, as a result, paid a penalty of over half a billion
pounds—and that was for the company. I am cautious about saying
anything more, because I understand that individuals are also
under investigation by the SFO. I am afraid that I cannot comment
on the question she raised about the personnel at the SFO, but I
will make inquiries and write to her.
To read all the exchanges, CLICK
HERE
