HC Deb 28 February 1996 vol 272 cc588-9W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [16891]

Mr. Boswell

A number of officials in the Department have declared their outside interests in accordance with departmental requirements. As with all employment matters, individuals' details are a confidential matter between them and their employer.

The departmental requirements are that staff must seek approval before becoming associated with any kind of private business interest which is related to the work of the Department, including holding shares which represent more than 10 per cent. of the issued share capital in any agricultural, food or fishery businesses or in any other businesses directly related to the area in which they work.

A central record of declarations is kept in accordance with the Department's records management procedures.