§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister (1) if she will appoint an independent public inquiry into the share dealings by or on behalf of her since 1979;
(2). if she will make a statement regarding the purchase or sale of shares in which she has been involved since 1979.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to exchanges in the House on 25 March, at columns 781–82.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister (1) what are the rules of conduct for Ministers governing speculation in shares in their own name and in their own account;
(2) if she will place in the Library a copy of the rules of conduct for Ministers as they affect the ownership and buying and selling of stocks and shares; and if there have been any infractions since 1979.
§ The Prime MinisterThe then Secretary of the Cabinet submitted a memorandum to the Royal Commission on standards of conduct in public life in 1975, a copy of which is in the Library. The conventions have not changed since then.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister if, in the light of her recent purchase and sale of shares in Broken Hill Proprietary, she will set up an inquiry into whether new rules are needed to govern the conduct of Ministers in share dealings in their own name and on their own account.
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member's question is based on a false premise.