July 16, 2007 (LPAC)--The British government was scheduled to be on the receiving end of tough questioning in the House of Commons today, over its shutdown of the investigation of the BAE bribery and slush-fund scandal, which Lyndon LaRouche has called "the scandal of the century." The Liberal Democratic opposition is also calling on the government to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice investigation of BAE.

In what is termed "Opposition Day," the Liberal Democrats have put the following item of business on the official agenda for debate this afternoon:

"That this House notes the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) ongoing investigation into the sale by BAE Systems plc of a military air traffic control system to Tanzania and into payments made to third parties in South Africa and other arms-related inquiries; notes with concern the consequences for the role of the Attorney General of the decision to terminate the SFO investigation into BAE Systems plc and Saudi Arabia and its implications for parliamentary accountability; believes serious damage has been done to the reputation of British business and to the credibility of the Government's campaign against corruption in the developing world; urges the Government to cooperate fully with the United States Department of Justice inquiry into corruption allegations concerning BAE Systems plc and with other international organisations; and calls for increased parliamentary accountability and transparency concerning the Government's dealings with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, is quoted in today's London Guardian calling the BAE allegations involving the government "incredibly serious." He adds: "It is profoundly unsatisfactory to invoke national security as the reason for this government's refusal to pursue either legal action or parliamentary oversight."