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Bribery Bill [HL]

I agree respectfully with the noble and learned Lord that insofar as there is a need for any of these subsections, prior authorisation is the route forward. I say that because the Minister emphasised earlier in our discussions that the Government are anxious to ensure transparency and certainty. I would suggest that a prior authorisation procedure through the Minister, or if he is unavailable a very senior official, would achieve those objectives. Such a procedure would do so far better in this context than leaving matters to assessment by a prosecutor, who will consider necessity after the event.