Anti-Corruption Strategy (UK0065)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: United Kingdom – Third National Action Plan 2016-18
Action Plan Cycle: 2016
Status: Inactive
Institutions
Lead Institution: Cabinet Office and Home Office
Support Institution(s): All government departments; Bond Anti-Corruption Group (ARTICLE 19, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Corruption Watch, Global Witness, Integrity Action, ONE, Public Concern at Work, The Corner House, Transparency International UK), Campaign for Freedom of Information, International Budget Partnership, mySociety, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Publish What You Pay UK
Policy Areas
Anti-Corruption, Anti-Corruption Institutions, E-Government, Public ParticipationIRM Review
IRM Report: United Kingdom End-of-Term Report 2016-2018, United Kingdom Mid-Term Report 2016-2018
Starred: No
Early Results: Marginal
Design i
Verifiable: Yes
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information , Civic Participation , Public Accountability
Implementation i
Description
Objective: To continue to have a robust cross-government Anti-Corruption Strategy that builds on the existing plan and brings together the UK’s current and up-to-date anti-corruption efforts in one place. The plan will be developed with civil society and delivered with strengthened accountability to Parliament.
Status quo: The first UK Anti-Corruption Plan, published in December 2014, features actions that have now been delivered. A new strategy will meet the government’s commitment to create a living document, which evolves alongside the nature of the threat from corruption and our response both here in the UK and abroad.
Ambition: This presents an opportunity for a new strategy to:
• present a strong strategic narrative around our anti-corruption efforts
• to capture international activity from the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Summit
• to maintain our ambition to develop new commitments in areas of concern
Enhanced engagement with civil society organisations and more accountability to Parliament will help demonstrate the government’s openness to ensuring the principle of transparency is applied to all anti-corruption efforts.
IRM End of Term Status Summary
3. Anti-Corruption Strategy
Commitment Text: To develop, in consultation with civil society, and publish a new Anti-Corruption Strategy ensuring accountability to Parliament on progress of implementation.
Objective:To continue to have a robust cross-government Anti-Corruption Strategy that builds on the existing plan and brings together the UK's current and up-to-date anti-corruption efforts in one place. The plan will be developed with civil society and delivered with strengthened accountability to Parliament.
Status quo:the first UK Anti-Corruption Plan, published in December 2014, features actions that have now been delivered. A new strategy will meet the government's commitment to create a living document that evolves alongside the nature of the threat from corruption and our response both here in the UK and abroad.
Ambition: this presents an opportunity for a new strategy to:
• Present a strong strategic narrative around our anti-corruption efforts
• To capture international activity from the Prime Minister's Anti-Corruption Summit
• To maintain our ambition to develop new commitments in areas of concern
Enhanced engagement with civil society organisations and more accountability to Parliament will help demonstrate the government's openness to ensuring the principle of transparency is applied to all anti-corruption efforts.
Milestones:
1. To consult with civil society on the content of and publish a UK Anti-Corruption Strategy
2. To publish progress against actions within the Strategy
3. To introduce a mechanism allowing greater Parliamentary scrutiny of anti-corruption work
Responsible institution: Cabinet Office and Home Office
Supporting institutions: All government departments, Bond Anti-Corruption Group (ARTICLE 19, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Corruption Watch, Global Witness, Integrity Action, ONE, Public Concern at Work, The Corner House, Transparency International UK), Campaign for Freedom of Information, International Budget Partnership, mySociety, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Publish What You Pay UK
Start date: May 2016
End date: June 2018
Commitment Aim:
The commitment stemmed from a series of anti-corruption initiatives in the second action plan and built on the UK's first Anti-Corruption Plan, published on 18 December 2014. The new strategy created a set of aims against which government action can be assessed or judged. The strategy potentially provided a long-term vision and set of priorities across government for the UK's anti-corruption activities.
Status
Midterm: Limited
At the end of the first year, the commitment's implementation was limited and behind schedule. Although consultation and work has taken place, the publication of the strategy was delayed 11 months beyond its November 2016 deadline.[Note 18: Interview with Alice Pilia and Jeremy Foster, Cabinet Office, 15 August 2017.]
The government cited the change of government in July 2016, the General Election of June 2017 and the need for more time to consult with other governments as the key factors delaying the commitment's implementation.[Note 19: Interview with Alice Pilia and Jeremy Foster, Cabinet Office, 15 August 2017.] CSOs confirmed these factors and felt that a delayed strategy was preferable to a rushed, poor strategy.[Note 20: Interview with Rachel Davies Teka, Transparency International, 14 August 2017. ] Nevertheless, they were disappointed in the delay, as they see this as an important area.[Note 21: Interview with Joseph Williams, 5 September 2017,]
End of term: Substantial
On 11 December 2017 the new 72-page strategy document was published, more than a year later than the government's initial commitment date of November 2016.[Note 22: DFID/Home Office (2017), UK anti-corruption strategy 2017 to 2022, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-anti-corruption-strategy-2017-to-2022 ] It was intended to pull together cross-government strategy and offer a six-point vision for the UK's anti-corruption activities:
1. Reduce the insider threat in high risk domestic sectors
2. Strengthen the integrity of the UK as an international financial centre
3. Promote integrity across the public and private sectors
4. Reduce corruption in public procurement and grants
5. Improve the business environment globally
6. Work with other countries to combat corruption[Note 23: Ibid.]
Following the concerns of partner CSOs, John Penrose MP was appointed as the anti-corruption champion.[Note 24: [1] John Penrose (2017), John Named Anti-Corruption Champion, http://johnpenrose.org/wp/2017/12/11/john-named-anti-corruption-champion/ ]
According to the final government update of April 2018 the Joint Anti-Corruption Unit are now working with departments to implement the strategy and have developed a monitoring and evaluation framework, which was signed off at the cross-Whitehall Directors' meeting on Anti-Corruption.[Note 25: UK government (2018), 2016-18 Open Government Action Plan: April 2018 Commitment Progress Updates, https://www.opengovernment.org.uk/resource/2016-18-open-government-action-plan-april-2018-commitment-progress-updates/ ] In Decmeber 2018, outside of the timeline, the government published an update to the strategy[Note 26: See Home Office (2018) Policy paper Anti-corruption strategy: year 1 update: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-corruption-strategy-year-1-update]
While the strategy itself has been published, the move to publish details of what progress is being made is reportedly ‘ongoing' across government.[Note 27: Interview with Katie Holder and Thom Townsend, DCMS, 8 August 2018: UK government (2018) 2016-18 Open Government Action Plan: April 2018 Commitment Progress Updates, https://www.opengovernment.org.uk/resource/2016-18-open-government-action-plan-april-2018-commitment-progress-updates/ ] In terms of the reporting mechanism, it has been decided, according to the UK government, that the parliamentary accountability mechanism will be via an annual written update.[Note 28: Interview with Katie Holder and Thom Townend, DCMS, 8 August 2018.]
Did It Open Government?
Access to Information: Did Not Change
Civic Participation: Marginal
Public Accountability: Did Not Change
The strategy represents an important step forward, but time will be needed to see how or whether the strategy works as a blueprint or guide for action and if it provides the ‘vision' across government that many argued was needed.
The strategy was broadly, if cautiously, welcomed by civil society. The Bond anti-corruption group welcomed the breadth and remit across domestic and international politics, the appointment of a new champion, the maintenance of the Serious Fraud Office and requirement that the government report annually to Parliament. However, it qualified this by saying ‘the Bond Group also feels that in several places the Strategy does not go far enough - for example, on transparency in the Overseas Territories, corruption in UK politics, golden visas and on a criminal corporate liability offence'.[Note 29: Bond Group (2017), UK makes welcome anti-corruption commitments, now action is needed,
https://www.bond.org.uk/press-releases/2017/12/uk-makes-welcome-anti-corruption-commitments-now-action-is-needed ] Transparency International also called the strategy a ‘welcome advance in the fight against corruption both at home and abroad' but made a similar point that ‘the Strategy fails to address corruption in UK politics and avoids confrontation with Britain's infamous offshore financial centres'.[Note 30: Transparency International (2017), Transparency International gives qualified welcome to new UK Anti-Corruption Strategy, http://www.transparency.org.uk/press-releases/transparency-international-gives-qualified-welcome-to-new-uk-anti-corruption-strategy/#.Wjfgn3nLjIW ]
So far, access to information and public accountability have not improved, especially as the parts of the commitment that track progress were incomplete. The strategy did not contain any new information or open up any new areas. There was a marginal improvement on participation, as members of the Bond group were involved in the consultation and met with government for face-to-face discussion in the summer of 2016. The government accepted that the strategy should cover domestic corruption, the UK's international influence, and the nexus between the two regarding, for example, illicit financial flows.[Note 31: Correspondence with Rachel Davies Teka, Transparency International UK, February 2019] The measuring of progress and annual reporting to parliament will provide a means of understanding its effects into the future, though this may depend on what form it takes (e.g. if there are questions in parliament).
Carried Forward?
This commitment was not carried forward into a new action plan.
Commitments
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Grants Data
UK0090, 2019, Access to Information
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Digital Charter
UK0091, 2019, Access to Information
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Open Policy Making
UK0092, 2019, Public Participation
-
Open Contracting Data
UK0093, 2019, Access to Information
-
Natural Resource Transparency
UK0094, 2019, Access to Information
-
Innovation in Democracy Programme
UK0095, 2019, Public Participation
-
Sustainable Open Government
UK0096, 2019, Capacity Building
-
Local Transparency
UK0097, 2019, Access to Information
-
Beneficial Ownership – UK
UK0063, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Natural Resource Transparency
UK0064, 2016, Access to Information
-
Anti-Corruption Strategy
UK0065, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Anti-Corruption Innovation Hub
UK0066, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Contracting
UK0067, 2016, Access to Information
-
Grants Data
UK0068, 2016, Access to Information
-
Elections Data
UK0069, 2016, Access to Information
-
Revising Freedom of Information Act Code of Practice
UK0070, 2016, Access to Information
-
Identifying and Publishing Core Data Assets
UK0071, 2016, Access to Information
-
Involving Data Users in Shaping the Future of Open Data
UK0072, 2016, Access to Information
-
Better Use of Data Assets
UK0073, 2016, Access to Information
-
GOV.UK
UK0074, 2016, Access to Information
-
Ongoing Collaborative Approach to Open Government Reform
UK0075, 2016, E-Government
-
Open Government at All Levels
UK0076, 2016, Public Participation
-
Open Policy-Making and Public Engagement
UK0077, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Public Sector Innovation
UK0078, 2016, Access to Information
-
OCDS Implementation
UK0079, 2016, Access to Information
-
Open-Up Government
UK0080, 2016, Access to Information
-
Open Data Plan
UK0081, 2016, Access to Information
-
Open Data Service
UK0082, 2016, Access to Information
-
Statswales
UK0083, 2016, Access to Information
-
Data Research Centre Wales
UK0084, 2016, E-Government
-
Government Social Research Publication Protocol
UK0085, 2016, E-Government
-
Gov.Wales
UK0086, 2016, E-Government
-
Code of Practice in Supply Chains
UK0087, 2016, Labor
-
National Indicators for Wales
UK0088, 2016, Fiscal Openness
-
Well-Being Duty
UK0089, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
National Information Infrastructure
UK0042, 2013,
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NHS England Website and Network
UK0043, 2013, Health
-
Revised Local Authories Data Transparency Code
UK0044, 2013, Capacity Building
-
Transparent Social Investment Market
UK0045, 2013, Access to Information
-
Manage and Capture Digital Records
UK0046, 2013, Capacity Building
-
Cross-Government Anti-Corruption Plan
UK0047, 2013, Anti-Corruption
-
Company Beneficial Ownership Information
UK0048, 2013, Anti-Corruption
-
Access to Police Records
UK0049, 2013, Justice
-
Transparency in Construction
UK0050, 2013, Infrastructure & Transport
-
Legislative Openness
UK0051, 2013, Anti-Corruption
-
Whistleblowing
UK0052, 2013, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Contracting
UK0053, 2013, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Contracting Scotland
UK0054, 2013, Anti-Corruption
-
International Aid Transparency
UK0055, 2013, Access to Information
-
Health Care Data
UK0056, 2013, Access to Information
-
Open Policy Making
UK0057, 2013, E-Government
-
Sciencewise
UK0058, 2013, E-Government
-
Publication of Draft Legislation
UK0059, 2013, Open Parliaments
-
OpenDataCommunities Programme
UK0060, 2013, Access to Information
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PSI Re-Use Directive
UK0061, 2013, Access to Information
-
Extractive Transparency
UK0062, 2013, Access to Information
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Ensuring a Clear Process to Support Reduction in Collection of ‘Unnecessary Data’
UK0024, 2011, E-Government
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Developing Data.Gov.Uk and Identifying Other Digital Channels to Support Users
UK0025, 2011,
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Evidence and Databases Behind Policy Statements
UK0026, 2011, E-Government
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Data Underlying Surveys
UK0027, 2011, E-Government
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Examining Ways for Improving the Use of Existing Published Data
UK0028, 2011, E-Government
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Stimulate the Market for Innovative Use of Open Data
UK0029, 2011, Access to Information
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Spend up to 5% of Budget Support on Accountability
UK0030, 2011, E-Government
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Include the OGP Eligibility Criteria to Determine Readiness for UK Budget Support
UK0031, 2011, Aid
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Publish Aid Information from All ODA Government Departments
UK0032, 2011, Aid
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Use a Single Domain for Government Services
UK0033, 2011, E-Government
-
Mandate ‘Channel Shift’
UK0034, 2011, E-Government
-
Go Online for All Consultations
UK0035, 2011, E-Government
-
Develop Practical Guidelines on Departmental Access to Internet and Social Media
UK0036, 2011, Civic Space
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Open Data and Application Interfaces in Ways That Encourage Businesses
UK0037, 2011, Access to Information
-
Create Cross-Government Standards on APIs
UK0038, 2011, Public Participation
-
Establish Standardised Formats for User-Satisfaction Data
UK0039, 2011, Public Participation
-
Provide Government Documents in Open Standard Format
UK0040, 2011, Access to Information
-
Implement Crowd-Sourcing and Engagement Processes
UK0041, 2011, Public Participation
-
New Power to Secure Release of Valuable Datasets
UK0001, 2011,
-
New, Higher Cost Cap for FOI
UK0002, 2011, Access to Information
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Meaningful Disincentives
UK0003, 2011,
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Maximum Time Limits
UK0004, 2011, Access to Information
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Altered Procurement Rules
UK0005, 2011,
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Mandating Phased Introduction of ‘Public by Default’
UK0006, 2011, E-Government
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Formalising Public Data Principles
UK0007, 2011,
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Having in Place an Open Data Compliance Monitoring Process
UK0008, 2011,
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Making Clear the Minimum Citizens Can Expect on Publication and Quality of Data
UK0009, 2011,
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Ensuring a Line of Continuous Improvement for Public Service Providers
UK0010, 2011, Access to Information
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Encourage Continuous Improvement
UK0011, 2011,
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Setting Out How Citizens Can Challenge Where There Is Failure in the Process
UK0012, 2011, Public Participation
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Establishing an Obligation to Consider and Act on User Feedback
UK0013, 2011, Public Participation
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Making Clear That Licenses Must Cover Free, Commercial Re-Use
UK0014, 2011,
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Merge Information Asset Registers…Into a Single Data Inventory
UK0015, 2011,
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Set Consistent Expectations of the Appropriate Quality of Meta-Data
UK0016, 2011, Records Management
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For Data Co-Ordinated Across Government, Set Definitions
UK0017, 2011, E-Government
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Introducing Corporate Responsibility at Transparency Board Level
UK0018, 2011,
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Strengthening and Broadening the Public Sector Transparency Board
UK0019, 2011, Anti-Corruption
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Bringing the Sector Transparency Board Model to Other Parts of Public Sector
UK0020, 2011, Anti-Corruption
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Reviewing the Existing Governance and Regulatory Model
UK0021, 2011,
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Establishing a Framework for Public Service Providers Data Inventories
UK0022, 2011, Records Management
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Developing a Clear Methodology to Support Intelligent Inventories
UK0023, 2011,