§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what codes of practice operate in his Department to ensure that(a) individuals advising on financial assistance to companies and (b) those assenting to company applications on the DTI board do not themselves financially benefit from their decisions as, or subsequently to become, (i) directors and (ii) trading partners of the beneficiary companies; and if he will make a statement. [25301]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 18 April 1996]: The civil service code states that civil servants should not misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. This general principle applies to full, part-time or fee-paid employment in business or other bodies outside the civil service or the establishment of a consultancy within two years of leaving crown employment. With regard to external advisers to the Department, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 April 1996, Official Report, columns 313-14. Appointments to the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the regional industrial development boards are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office's guide to public appointments procedures which covers potential conflicts of interest. Registers of members' interests are also held. In this connection also, the Department is implementing the recommendations on regional industrial development boards referred to in its note on the collapse of ROM-Data, laid before Parliament in February.