§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the officials in his department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16889]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordIn accordance with the civil service management code, the Department's staff handbook requires that staff may not use or appear to use their public position to further their personal interests, or those of members of their immediate family or of any other person on the values of whose assets they advise. Should any potential conflict of interest arise, staff must disclose that fact to their line manager and ask that someone else should deal with the matter. Failure to comply with these rules is treated as a breach of discipline.
Staff who disclose relevant interests do so on the understanding that this information, like all matters relating to their employment, is confidential between them and their employer.