§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the business relationships notified to him by Mr. Roger Liddle. [49655]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 9 July 1998]: In accordance with the Civil Service Management Code, on appointment as a Special Adviser to the No. 10 Policy Unit, Mr. Liddle notified the Cabinet Office that he was Managing Director of Prima Europe Ltd. and that he was a shareholder in the company.
Mr. Liddle has consented to the release of this information.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister what guidance he gives to(a) Cabinet Ministers and (b) other Ministers concerning participation at events organised or facilitated by lobbying companies; and what account this guidance takes of Chatham House rules. [50466]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 14 July 1998]: Ministers participating in any outside event—whether under the Chatham House rule or not—must conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set out in the Ministerial Code.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister in respect of section 9, "Guidance For Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists", whether media contacts are deemed to be lobbyists for the purpose of the guidance. [54481]
§ The Prime MinisterCivil servants are under a duty, set out in the Civil Service Code, not to misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. The practical examples outlined in Section 9 of the guidance focus on dealings with lobbyists but these principles apply to all contacts between civil servants and people outside Government.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister if the guidance issued to civil servants concerning dealings with lobbyists will extend to civil servants working to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. [54437]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Guidance is a clarification of the existing rules set out in the Civil Service Code. Its purpose is to set out some practical guidelines to staff who come into contact with groups and people outside Government. The Guidance applies to all civil servants. Its principles will therefore apply to members of the Home Civil Service working in the Scottish Executive and to the Welsh Assembly.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister in drawing up the guidance to civil servants on dealings with lobbyists, to what extent he drew on practice in other member states of the European Union. [54438]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Guidance is essentially a clarification of existing rules and principles which have long applied to civil servants in the United Kingdom.600W However, in drafting the Guidance which sets out practical guidelines for staff who may come into contact with groups and people outside Government, experience and practice overseas was, of course, considered.