Meg Munn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Sheffield, Heeley, Labour)

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, in its report "Overseas Territories", published on 6 July, recommended amongst other things the appointment of a commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I wish to inform the House that on 10 July the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands announced the appointment of a commission of inquiry. The commission will inquire into whether there is information that corruption or other serious dishonesty in relation to past and present elected Members of the House of Assembly (previously known as the Legislative Council) may have taken place in recent years. It is to report to the Governor within sixteen weeks its preliminary findings and recommendations concerning:

(a) instigating criminal investigations by the police or otherwise;

(b) any indications of systemic weaknesses in legislation, regulation and administration;

(c) any recommendation that the inquiry's terms of reference be extended;

(d) any other matters relating thereto.

The Commission will be led by the Rt Hon Sir Robin Auld. He is undertaking a short initial visit to the territory from 13-16 July followed by a period of preparation in the UK leading to his main visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands in September/October. He will submit the preliminary report and recommendations to the Governor by 3 November.

The Commission will conduct such parts of its inquiry as it deems appropriate in camera, in the interests of confidentiality. In addition, the commissions of inquiry ordinance provides that anyone who attempts to interfere with this process is liable, on conviction, to a fine, imprisonment, or both. The Commission also has powers to summon any person in Turks and Caicos Islands to attend to give evidence.

In addition, a number of important steps have recently been taken or are currently underway to reduce the scope for corruption and to improve capacity in the Turks and Caicos Islands to deal with it should it occur. These include the establishment of an integrity commission, a human rights commission, a complaints commissioner, a ministerial code, a public service code of ethics and integrity and the appointment of a highly experienced Chief Auditor, and the adoption of a comprehensive proceeds of crime ordinance.