Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the gifts given to staff within the Department of Agriculture from interests associated with the Goodman Meat firm; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 21 May 1991]: Under the Northern Ireland civil service pay and conditions of service code only gifts of
a trivial or inexpensive seasonal naturemay be accepted by civil servants. To my knowledge only gifts in this category have been accepted by staff in the Department of Agriculture.At Christmas 1989 and 1990 some staff in HQ divisions of the Department of Agriculture received unsolicited gifts of alcohol from the Goodman Group. The group was contacted and told that staff could not accept such gifts but the group refused to accept their return. Accordingly, 10 bottles of spirits—nine in 1989 and one in 1990—were donated to the NSPCC which acknowledged their receipt to the Goodman Group.