APPENDIX 11
Memorandum by the Export Guarantees Advisory
Council
INTRODUCTION: ABOUT
THE EXPORT
GUARANTEES ADVISORY
COUNCIL
1. The Export Guarantees Advisory Council
(EGAC) is established under Section 13 of the Export and Investment
Guarantees Act 1991. Its statutory purpose is to give advice to
the Secretary of State, at his request, in respect of any matter
relating to the exercise of his functions under the Act. Currently,
the Council's broad remit from the Secretary of State is to provide
advice on the principles that should guide the pursuit by the
Export Credits Guarantee Department's (ECGD) of the aims and objectives
set out in its Mission Statement, and how these principles should
inform its business policies. Specifically in respect of ECGD's
business policies, EGAC considers whether these support the Government's
policies for good environmental standards, the promotion of sustainable
economic development in emerging markets, and good governance.
Advice is usually given direct to ECGD at regular Council meetings,
which take place on four to six occasions through the year, and
at a dinner with the Minister for Trade once a year. The Council
also reports on its activities in ECGD's Annual Review and Resource
Accounts.
2. Membership is drawn from a variety of
fields, bringing outside expertise in a number of areas relevant
to ECGD's Mission. For example, I am Founder/Chief Entrepreneur
of SustainAbility, an independent think tank and strategy consultancy,
which advises on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.
The full EGAC membership list can be found at www.ecgd.gov.uk/index/pi_home/pi_ac/advisory_council_members_.htm.
Council members are not paid in respect of the time they devote
to Council matters.
ECGD'S ANTI-BRIBERY
AND CORRUPTION
PROCEDURES
3. ECGD's consultation on its anti-bribery
and corruption procedures was an issue which the Council followed
with interest and one on which the Council was given proper opportunity
to contribute. EGAC received oral reports from ECGD on the progress
of the consultation and the issues under consideration at every
Council meeting and at a meeting dedicated to this topic on 16
November 2005. EGAC was accordingly able to provide advice on
the relevant procedures as policy was being formulated. Council
members were also given the opportunity to read all of the representations
to the consultation and to offer written comments on the draft
of the Government's Final Response before it was submitted to
Ministers for approval. Minutes of all EGAC meetings are available
on ECGD's website at www.ecgd.gov.uk/index/pi_home/pi_ac/the_advisory_council_-_minutes.htm.
4. EGAC's views on the outcome of ECGD's
consultation are best summed up in my contribution on behalf of
the Council to the press release that accompanied the publication
of the Final Response:
". . . ECGD has consulted widely on the
best ways forward, and EGAC is confident that the rules announced
today will send a clear message that the UK will not support corrupt
practices. Our assessment is that these new arrangements will
helpfully clarify what is expected from exporters who want ECGD
support. We conclude that the procedures do not place uncompetitive
restrictions on exporters — and, importantly, give the UK
a strong position from which to argue for equivalent standards
to be introduced internationally."
5. The full quote, and press release, can
be found on ECGD's website at www.ecgd.gov.uk/news_home.htm?id=7001.
6. I thank the Committee for the opportunity
to convey the views of EGAC at your upcoming evidence session.
I suggest that, as this memorandum fully represents our position,
it should represent our evidence to the Committee.
April 2006
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