UK: the Bribery Bill - Report stage today

The Bribery Bill is being considered at Report stage in the House of Lords today. At Committee stage (first sitting) there was much discussion about clause 7, which introduces a new offence of strict liability - the failure by a commercial organisation to prevent bribery - and the desirability of guidance on the measures that can be taken by companies to avoid committing this offence. In this regard, amongst the amendments moved to be considered at Report today is one from Lord Bach, a Government minister, requiring the Secretary of State to publish guidance about the procedures that relevant commercial organisations can put in place to prevent persons associated with them from bribing.