§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions(a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8065]
§ Mr. DewarIt would not be practicable for Ministers and officials, among their other duties, to check requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests. The First Report of the Nolan Committee made it clear that, when hon. Members are meeting Ministers on matters in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest and not on the Minister to know of it (Cm 2850 paragraph 2.63).
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8062]
§ Mr. DewarThe First Report of the Nolan Committee (Cm. 2850) recognised the value of enabling hon. Members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared, both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the Rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, hon. Members are free to seek meetings relative to such interests with Ministers and268W officials. Such requests are considered alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others.