Compliance culture

SIR – Barry Johnson (Letters, July 25) discusses the rise of compliance questionnaires sent to suppliers.

This is part of a trend among governments and large organisations to impose controls and transparency on suppliers in such areas as anti-bribery, money laundering, tax evasion, data protection, and health and safety. The motives are to raise standards in commerce and to offload responsibility if something goes wrong.

A substantial business may be accumulating more than 100 new and varying questionnaires a year. I do not know how small enterprises cope.

This is well-intended, but it would be better if all those concerned agreed on a common standard, and for suppliers to register on a database as compliant – or record the extent of their deviation. Even if there were different standards for different business sectors, it would be hugely preferable to the present process.

Roger Butterworth Harpenden, Hertfordshire