§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to the Lord Chancellor's Department. [56454]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonExecutive and advisory non-departmental public bodies are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of each of their NDPBs.
Information on the executive NDPBs sponsored by this Department is as follows:
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, which was set up last year, has a Code of Best Practice and a register of interests.The Information Commissioner makes a statement as set out in FRS 8 in her annual accounts confirming that she had no personal or business interests which conflict with her responsibilities. The Commissioner's accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.The Legal Services Commission has a Code of Best Practice for LSC members with rules of conduct to report conflicts of interest. The commission also maintains a register of members' financial, business and other interests which is available for public inspection through the commission's secretariat department and is published in its annual report.The Department's advisory NDPBs also have codes and registers.