10. Mr. John M. TaylorIf she will make a statement on the actions Ministers in her Department have taken to avoid conflicts of interest relating to private shareholdings. [15399]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyDepartment of Trade and Industry Ministers have acted in accordance with guidance in paragraphs 109 to 123 of the ministerial code, which provide a number of alternative options for avoiding conflicts of interest relating to private shareholdings.
Mr. TaylorWhy does the Minister not just say what shareholdings Ministers hold or have recently held, so that we can conclude which of them are disqualified from what?
§ Mr. McCartneyMinisters have fully complied with the high standards set in the ministerial code. They have avoided conflicts of interest using options in the code. The difference between Labour Ministers and the Tories is a simple one: we are squeaky clean, but they are just squeaky.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Minister will not answer the questions today, and the President of the Board of Trade never answers them. She has had to go all the way to Australia to ensure that, today, she is not put under pressure on those questions—so breaking another rule of the ministerial code, which states that, when Parliament is in session, Ministers should not go abroad on Cabinet day. She is running scared down under. Why will the Minister not now tell us the answer to a very simple question: which companies, issues and industries each DTI Minister cannot handle because of a present or past shareholding, or a present or past prejudice? He should tell the House and the public the answer to that question, because they need to know who—if anyone—is conducting business in the DTI.
§ Mr. McCartneyTrue to form, the right hon. Gentleman is shooting from the lip. He has tabled 70 questions on all conceivable details of the positions held by Ministers—but he knows the position. Ministers have complied fully with the high standards set in the ministerial code.
§ Mr. RedwoodAnswer.
§ Mr. McCartneyI am answering. Ministers have avoided conflicts of interest by using options in the code. The shadow Minister has failed comprehensively to get running an allegation and scare story that is completely out of order. Lord Simon, for example, has at all times behaved with complete propriety. That was confirmed by Sir Robin Butler, the Cabinet Secretary. The Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), has a small shareholding because of a tragic accident, in which his father died. [Hon. MEMBERS: "A pathetic answerl It is absolutely correct. Consequently, my hon. Friend has acted with propriety.
When the shadow Secretary of State was Secretary of State for Wales, his wife was secretary of British Airways. He declared an interest when she, on behalf of that 445 company, was involved in a £100 million investment programme in Wales. He acted in the same way in which Ministers have acted. He has made no case to answer. How much further will he stoop to get a story going that does not exist?