§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 13 December,Official Report, column 508, he 436W will place in the Library a copy of the advice to employees on their duty to avoid any conflict of interest between their responsibilities as national health service employees and their private and commercial interests, or a full summary of guidance that has been given to employees, which employees are expected to observe pending the publication of any fresh and authoritative advice by his Department.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettAdvice given to staff is essentially a matter for individual health authorities as employers.
Existing departmental guidance which is of long standing is limited to a statement of principle as regards the expected conduct of staff in connection with the acceptance of gifts and hospitality and the pursuit of private transactions with contractors and other suppliers of goods to the NHS. The new central guidance now being prepared will update and expand upon those principles and will set out general rules to be followed in circumstances where the private interests of employees may conflict with their public duties or where the suspicion of such a conflict may arise.