Downing Street Says » Ministers’ Interests

Asked what the difference was between the register of members interests and the register of ministers interests, the Prime Minister s Spokesman (PMS) said that the register of ministers interests related to any interests that members or close family members had that was relevant to their ministerial duties or where there was a perceived potential conflict of interest. Therefore it was wider than the register of members interests that only related to their parliamentary interests.

Asked what the resolution would be if there was a perceived conflict of interest, the PMS said that the procedure was that each minister was responsible when appointed for disclosing their relevant interests to the Permanent Secretary of their department. Action would then be taken if there was a perceived conflict of interest following discussions with the Permanent Secretary.

Asked what the rationale was for putting together the list of ministers interests, the PMS said that we were committed to reassuring Parliament and the public that no conflict existed between a minister s public duties and their private interests.

Asked if the decision to publish the register was a reflection of concern over any particular ministers, the PMS said that it didn t reflect any particular case. This was a commitment the Prime Minister made shortly after he took office in order to ensure that there was greater transparency surrounding the interests of ministers (and close family members) as opposed to Members of Parliaments interests.

Asked if the register would include interests of a minister s girlfriend/boyfriend or ex-spouse, the PMS said it related to close family members and it was for ministers and permanent secretaries to take a view as to how that should be defined according to the minister s individual circumstances.

Asked if the report from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests would lead to further changes, the PMS said that it was an annual report.

Put that ministers had to divest themselves of any interests that could conflict with their duties and that this list proved that ministers had not been adhering to the Ministerial Code, the PMS said no; it showed how ministers were acting in line with the Ministerial Code by declaring any relevant interests they had.

Asked who carried out the report, the PMS said that the report had been compiled by the Cabinet Office on the basis of information that ministers had disclosed to their permanent secretaries on appointment, and in consultation with the Prime Minister s Independent Adviser on Ministers Interests.

Asked if everyone had cooperated, the PMS said that everyone had cooperated fully as you would expect.

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» Thursday, March 12, 2009

Ministers’ Interests

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