§ Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in taking account of the peculiar structure of local government in Northern Ireland, he will require planning officers to follow the practice of councillors in declaring their interests in cases where their duties may constitue a conflict of interest on the part of themselves or their families.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 July 1989]: In accordance with their conditions of service all civil servants are required not to put themselves in a position where their duty and private interests conflict and they must not make use of their official position to further those interests. All planning officials, therefore, are expected to take no part in cases where their duties may constitute a conflict of interest on the part of themselves or their families.