Britain will pledge not to let the corruption which enveloped Turks and Caicos occur in any of its other Overseas Territories, in a Foreign Office white paper.A draft version of the document, seen by The Royal Gazette, says the UK is “committed to taking strong action to combat corruption and expects the Territories to do so too”.It points to the “high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers” identified in TCI by a 2009 Commission of Inquiry.The white paper, which was released in full this morning and which can be seen through the link at the end of the story, states: “This led to the suspension of ministerial government and the Legislative Assembly and a programme to bring deep-seated changes to political culture.“The UK Government will implement the necessary systemic reforms and restore the Territory to democratically-elected government as soon as is practicable.“We are determined that the evidence of corruption and maladministration revealed in the Turks and Caicos Islands is never repeated, there or in any other Territory.“The UK Government will take firm and resolute action wherever there is evidence of corruption or maladministration in a Territory.”The reports adds: “Bribery must have no place in British business, at home or abroad. The UK Bribery Act 2010 provides a robust legal framework to combat bribery in the UK and internationally.“It applies to British citizens including in the Territories. The UK is also committed to implementing international standards, such as the UN Convention Against Corruption and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.“The UK expects the Territories to adhere to relevant standards and to put the necessary legislation in place so that these conventions can be extended to them.”The draft white paper on the Territories — subtitled Security, Success and Sustainability — was mistakenly published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website on Monday.Cayman News Service downloaded a copy, which it shared with this newspaper yesterday, before the FCO realised its error and withdrew the 125-page report.Governor George Fergusson told The Royal Gazette the draft was an “early version” of the official white paper.“I think its publication is imminent or close to imminent but it will be slightly different from the version that came out early this week,” he said.The paper was prepared after the UK Government held a public consultation on its 14 Territories from September to January.British Prime Minister David Cameron describes Bermuda as “one of the world’s richest communities” in his foreword, while Foreign Secretary William Hague says Britain wants to foster high standards of governance as part of a “re-engagement” strategy with its Territories.The paper discusses the UK’s constitutional relationship with the Territories and its responsibility for external affairs, defence, including the police and the appointment, discipline and removal of public officers.It says: “We believe that at this point in the history of our relationships with the Territories, when a decade of constitutional revision is coming to a close, the time is not right to embark on a further round of constitutional change.“Rather our strategy is to ensure the constitutional arrangements work effectively to promote the best interests of the Territories and of the UK.”The report states that the UK expects its Territories to “abide by the same basic standards of human rights as the UK”. “We want to work with all the populated Territories with a view to extending outstanding UN human rights conventions to them by the end of 2013.”It also promises to improve access to European Union aid and help the Territories access National Lottery cash, as well as assist Bermuda with the “liberalisation of air service agreements with the US and other states”.For the full report go here: http://www.fco.gov.uk/overseas-territories/white-paper