HC Deb 10 July 1997 vol 297 cc600-2W
Mr. Fallon

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list which areas of competitiveness are(a) her responsibility and (b) the responsibility of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. [7433]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 9 July 1997]: I have overall responsibility for all competitiveness issues in the DTI. The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has responsibility for European issues affecting competitiveness, in particular completion of the EU single market.

Mr. Fallon

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe had access to official papers concerning energy issues before he sold his shares in British Petroleum; and if he continues to have such access; [7424]

(2) if the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe attended departmental or inter-departmental meetings on energy matters before he sold his shares in British Petroleum; and if he continues to attend such meetings. [7431]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Minister of State for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe does not routinely see papers or attend meetings concerning energy issues, since they do not form part of his responsibilities. But he is only barred from seeing papers, including papers on energy issues, (or attending meetings) which have a bearing on BP. He has not sold his shares in BP, and there are no requirements on him to do so; the other arrangements in place ensure that there is no conflict of interest.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what meetings she has had with the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe to discuss Government policy on the single currency. [7664]

Mrs. Beckett

I discuss a range of issues regularly with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe as with all my Ministerial team.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she was first informed that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe should not be involved in any matter affecting British Petroleum. [7549]

Mrs. Beckett

I have been aware since the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's appointment that he, like all Ministers, was making arrangements to ensure that he complied with Questions of Procedure for Ministers. Question of Procedure for Ministers requires that a Minister with a private interest should remain entirely detached from consideration of any public business affecting it. Lord Simon has fully complied with this provision.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to her oral answer of 3 July.Official Report, column 409, in respect of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe, for what reasons she does not know the details of the issues; [7421]

(2) if she will make a statement on the procedures applying to the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe in respect of the avoidance of conflicts of interest. [7427]

Mrs. Beckett

On 3 July the hon. Gentleman asked me without notice,Official Report, column 409, and on a question about Departmental policies to give details about the handling of the personal finances of my noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe including of all of his shareholdings and options.

While I was aware that my noble Friend had taken action to preclude any potential conflict of interest I was unable on the spur of the moment to recall whether any detailed aspects of these steps remained to be completed. That is why I undertook to write to the right hon. Gentleman.

In that letter of 4 July I said: As you will know, the guidance on these matters is set out in Questions of Procedure for Ministers. The key principle, to which all Ministers are committed from the time of their appointment, is that Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests. In order to meet this requirement, Lord Simon has of course resigned as Chairman and as a director of BP. (He has also resigned all his other directorships.) Furthermore, he is not involved in any of the DTI's business which covers BP activity, nor does he receive any papers which have a bearing on BP. This removes any possibility of conflict of interest between his former involvement with BP and his current responsibilities at the DTI. I understand that similar arrangements are in place in the Treasury to keep Lord Simon apart from decisions in areas relating to his previous employment and that Lord Simon did not contribute to the pre-Budget decision making process. Separately, he has placed the generality of his investments in blind trusts. He holds no options. He has not however disposed of his shareholding in BP, but has undertaken not to trade these shares before January 1998, at which time the position will be reviewed. But no conflict can occur given Lord Simon's non-involvement with Government business concerning BP.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade by what date the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe(a) sold all his shares in BP, (b) cancelled his options on shares and (c) severed all his business links. [7422]

Mrs. Beckett

The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe severed all his business links with BP on 7 May 1997. He had no options on BP shares. He has retained his shares in BP, but the arrangements described in my letter to the right hon. Gentleman of 4 July, which I refer to in my earlier answer, ensure that no conflict of interest can rise.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what directorships are held by the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe; and what arrangements will govern(a) his relinquishment of them and (b) his dealings with matters relating to particular industries in which he was previously involved. [5995]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 30 June 1997]: Lord Simon of Highbury relinquished all his directorships on his unpaid appointment to public service as Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. He is not involved in any Government business concerning matters relating to his previous employment.