§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryGuidance in the Ministry's staff manual asks staff to notify their personnel point/establishment officer of any shareholdings they hold which represents more than 10 per cent. of the issued share capital in any agricultural, food or fishery businesses or of any shareholdings directly related to the area in which they work. Staff should consult their personnel point/ establishment officer about the desirability of acquiring or retaining a shareholding if there is any question of possible conflict with the interests of the Department. Information on the number of notifications given within the last five years cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. Next steps agencies follow this guidance but may draw up their own separate guidance to avoid any possible conflict of interest in their area of responsibility.