The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a two-month consultation on the Bribery Act in an effort to help businesses prepare for new legislation.

The consultation opened yesterday (14 September) and will run until 8 November, with all parties set to be affected by the Act encouraged to give feedback.

It comes after the Government announced on 20 July that it will postpone the implementation of the Act until April 2011 in order to give companies a chance to put proper procedures in place.

The move will be welcomed by many after concerns were raised that the Bribery bill was rushed through parliament during the last days of the former Government.

The consultation comes as a result of feedback presented to the Joint Parliamentary Committee by industry specialists including Simmons & Simmons white collar crime specialist partner Louise Delahunty and Hogan Lovells commercial litigation partner Jeremy Cole.

The Government has also taken advice from a number of organisations including BAE Systems and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The consultation also covers questions surrounding corporate hospitality and promotional expenditure, with some fearing that strict new legislation threatens to put UK companies and those doing business in the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

Delahunty (pictured) commented: "It has to be put to careful consideration to what extent this guidance helps every different sector specifically, but in general it is to be welcomed that the Government is taking into account the views expressed by various business sectors.

"It is also welcomed that, separately, it provides additional clarification on corporate hospitality as the legislation on foreign public officials effectively makes even legitimate promotional expenditures questionable."

The Government is set to publish feedback in the consultation early next year.

Click here to download Norton Rose's Legal Week Law briefing on the consultation.