To ask the Solicitor-General what factors the Attorney-General is taking into account in considering whether to consent to the Serious Fraud Office bringing charges against Energy Financing Team for alleged overseas corruption offences in Serbia. (240534)

This case concluded in June 2008. The Director of the Serious Fraud Office concluded that a prosecution was not justified in this case. In considering whether to grant her consent to any prosecution, the Attorney-General applies well known prosecutorial principles in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. In cases of overseas corruption, the Attorney-General abides by Article 5 of the OECD Convention.

To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions the Attorney-General has had with Government departments; and what representations she has received from others on whether to consent to the bringing of charges against Energy Financing Team for alleged overseas corruption offences in Serbia. (240535)

The Attorney-General did not reach a decision on whether or not to consent to a prosecution of EFT because, in the event, the director of the SFO concluded on 2 June 2008 that a prosecution was not justified. The only discussions that the Attorney-General had in relation to the case were with the SFO, and the only representations that she received were from the SFO.

To ask the Solicitor-General when the investigation into the activities of Energy Financing Team in Serbia will be concluded; on what date the case was referred to the Serious Fraud Office; and on what date the Serious Fraud Office passed its report to the Attorney-General. (240582)

The case was accepted for domestic investigation by the SFO on 7 July 2004. The former director of the SFO, Robert Wardle, submitted a request to the Attorney-General for consent to proceed with the prosecution on 12 September 2007. The current director of the SFO, Richard Alderman, made the decision to discontinue the investigation into EFT on 2 June 2008.