Written question asked by Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 October 2008. It was answered by Vera Baird (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Fraud

Question: To ask the Solicitor-General what the respective responsibilities are of the (a) Serious Fraud Office and (b) Fraud Prosecution Service; and what arrangements are in place to ensure effective liaison between the two organisations.

Answer: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) both investigates and prosecutes the most serious or complex cases involving fraud or corruption. This dual function makes the SFO unique among the UK's counter-fraud and counter-corruption agencies.The Fraud Prosecution Service is responsible for prosecuting fraud cases which fall within its acceptance criteria.The Serious Fraud Office and the Fraud Prosecution Service have regular liaison at senior management level, and generic and specific issues arising from the investigation and prosecution of fraud cases are formally raised at the Joint Vetting Committee to ensure the effective and appropriate disposal of fraud allegations.

Secondary information