Examination of Witness (Questions 320
- 322)
TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2000
MR MARK
MALLOCH BROWN
Mr Colman
320. The CSD on financing will cover corruption.
(Mr Malloch Brown) Yes.
Mr Rowe
321. I think some of us have been quite shocked
to discover that despite all of our rhetoric and our well-intentioned
institutions that the United Kingdom has not got a very glowing
record of co-operating with requests to provide information to
people trying to stamp out corruption in their own country, and
so on. I just wonder to what extent does UNDP find that some of
the donor countries are strangely reluctant when it comes to prosecuting
their own nationals? I just wondered if that was a difficulty
for you?
(Mr Malloch Brown) I think different countries have
different Achilles' heels on this issue. The United Kingdom issue
has been this banking issue, of funds coming through the UK banking
system. I am not aware—this may just be ignorance so do
not take it as a particularly authoritative word on this—of
a problem with the UK in terms of its suppliers and contractors
in developing countries misbehaving on a large scale. I could
not say the same about some of your European competitors.
Chairman
322. That is a most interesting note on which
I think we should end! I want to thank you very much indeed for
a very fascinating session. I think it has helped the Committee
a great deal to try and focus on what we have got to do which
in this huge field is only going to touch on the problem but it
will make a contribution, we hope, particularly as a result of
your contribution. Thank you very much.
(Mr Malloch Brown) Thank you.
| 
