§ Mr. BercowTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what record she keeps of correspondence about the Department's responsibilities received by her Ministers from recent business acquaintances; [5624]
(2) what arrangements exist to prevent a Minister in her Department handling correspondence about its responsibilities from recent business acquaintances. [5617]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 27 June 1997]: All correspondence received by Ministers is recorded on receipt by their Private Officers. Such records are not categorised according to whether or not Ministers are acquainted with the correspondent. All Ministers are under a duty to ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests; where necessary, Ministers must delegate their responsibilities for particular decision to another Minister to avoid such conflicts. Guidance is provided in Questions of Procedure for Ministers, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.