§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [16879]
§ Mr. NorrisIn accordance with service-wide rules, the Department's staff handbook requires staff to declare to line managers any business or financial interests which they or immediate members of their families hold, which they would be able to further as a result of their official position. Staff must then follow any departmental instructions regarding the retention, disposal, or560W management of such interests. However, it is not departmental policy to disclose information given in confidence by staff.
Copies of written declarations and subsequent advice from line managers are retained on the individuals' personal files. This arrangement works satisfactorily but the need for a central register will be kept under review.