HC Deb 04 July 1997 vol 297 cc290-1W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to introduce restrictions on members of the bodies allocating lottery funds from taking jobs with organisations to which they have been making allocations. [6062]

Mr. Banks

Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), including those which allocate Lottery funds, are covered by the guidance on business appointment rules set out in the Treasury/Office of Public Services Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This requires NDPBs to consider whether they need to adopt rules comparable to those that apply to Crown servants in the light of their functions and of any potential for conflict of interest which might give rise to public concern. My Department has reminded those NDPBs for which it is responsible of this requirement, and asked them to consider whether appropriate clauses might also be inserted into the contract of employees in especially sensitive positions.

Staff of NDPBs generally were reminded of the need to observe the business appointment rules of their organisation in the model Code of Practice for Staff of Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies published by the Office of Public Service in August 1996, a copy of which is also in the Library of the House. My Departments NDPBs have all adopted, or are in the process of adopting, the model Code.