§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the commercial interests of his scientific adviser, Sir Samuel Edwards.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo. There is no requirement for my scientific adviser to disclose his commercial interests unless there is a possibility that they might conflict with the interests of my Department.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his scientific adviser, Sir Samuel Edwards, was asked to divest himself of any directorships or shareholdings.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo, but Sir Sam Edwards gave up his appointment as a consultant to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. He will not give advice on any matter giving rise to a conflict of interest.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Energy what procedures were adopted for vetting the shareholdings of his scientific adviser, Sir Samuel Edwards, under paragraph 9874 of the general principles of conduct for civil servants.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThere is no requirement for shareholdings to be vetted unless there is a question of possible conflict with the interests of my Department. Before taking up his appointment Sir Sam Edwards was given a copy of the "General Principles of Conduct for Civil Servants" (paragraphs 9870 to 9875 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code), which includes a requirement to declare an interest if in any particular instance he found that he was dealing with a matter in which he had a personal interest.