“We recently received assurances from the highest levels of the UK government that they would issue guidance which would allow the UK’s Bribery Act 2010 to enter into force,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.

“We are happy that they have now done so. We hope it will help the effective implementation of the spirit and the letter of the Act when it comes into force on 1 July 2011."

?Mark Pieth, Chair of the OECD’s Working Group on Bribery, added: “We are not yet in a position to comment on the substance of the guidance but trust it will be in line with the UK’s Bribery Act 2010 and the government’s stated aim of fighting against transnational bribery - creating a level playing field for business.”

?In October of this year evaluators from the OECD’s Working Group on Bribery will visit the UK. The evaluation of the UK’s implementation of the Act will include interviews with representatives from government, the private sector, and civil society and will seek to assess the guidance, awareness of UK’s Bribery Act, as well as its enforcement including the role of the Serious Fraud Office and other law enforcement authorities.