§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has taken in respect of potential conflicts of interests for members of the board 15W of the Environment Agency who are professionally engaged in industries that must be licensed by the agency with particular reference to the chairman of Ready Mixed Concrete. [23775]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe statutory requirements in respect of agency board members' interests are set out in schedule 1 to the Environment Act 1995. Agency board members were required by their terms of appointment to abide by the Department's general guidance on the declaration and registration of interests—both financial and non-financial—until the agency had drawn up and issued its own guidance. The agency is required to draw up a code of practice for its board members, based on the Government's general code of best practice for board members of public bodies, for approval by the Department. This will incorporate guidance on the declaration and registration of interests.