§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interst; 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's interests. [16890]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythCivil servants faced with a conflict of interest are required to declare their interst to senior line management so that a decision can be taken on how best to proceed. These rules are set out in section A10.1 of the Scottish Office staff handbook.
Staff who disclose a relevant interest do so on the understanding that the declaration, like all employment matters, is confidential between them and their employer.
We do not plan to establish a central register of officials' interests.