§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the past five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Lord Chancellor's Department's guidance is contained in the departmental personnel management manual which is based on the code and guide. There have been no reports of shareholdings to establishment officers in the last five years.
The code and guide regulations apply to the next steps agencies as to the rest of the Department.
The personnel management manual and next steps agency regulations require all staff to consult personnel if a shareholding might raise a question of possible conflict.