HC Deb 23 July 1997 vol 298 cc662-5W
Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons she informed the hon. Member for Wokingham(a) on 4 July that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe had placed his non-British Petroleum shareholdings in a blind trust and (b) on 14 July, Official Report, column 68, that the Minister had not yet done so. [9591]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 18 July 1997]: My letter of 4 July explained in general terms how the Minister had complied with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" in the light of discussions with the DTI permanent secretary. From his appointment on 7 May, he deliberately refrained from giving trading instructions to his bank in respect of any of his individual shareholding interests pending completion of the necessary trust arrangements. As that answer also made clear, the Minster put arrangements in place from the outset to match as closely as possible those of a blind trust until the blind trust arrangements could be completed, which they now have been.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what correspondence the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has entered into in relation to(a) thionyl chloride, (b) ethyl succinyl chloride, (c) propane phosphoric dichloride and (d) other similar oil-based chemicals. [9197]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 18 July 1997]: None.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when she first was notified that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe planned to keep a substantial shareholding in BP for 1997; [9198]

(2) when she received notification from the office of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe about which issues and papers the Minister could not deal with; [9199]

(3) when she was first notified that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe had not placed his non-BP shares in a blind trust in compliance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". [9200]

Mr. Page

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she was first informed that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe had not put all his shares into a blind trust. [9871]

Mr. Bercow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when she was informed that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe intended to place his non-BP investments in a blind trust; [9340]

(2) when she was first informed of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's continued shareholding in BP; [9337]

(3) when she was informed that the legal structure of the transfer of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's non-BP investments was proposed to take effect on 18 June; [9339]

(4) when she was informed that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's non-BP shareholdings had not been placed in a blind trust. [9341]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answers 18 July 1997]: "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" makes it clear that the means of compliance with the guidance on investments and avoidance of conflict of interest is for the judgment and decision of individual Ministers, in the light of advice from the relevant permanent secretary if they wish. There was therefore no need for special arrangements to inform me about these matters.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of trade on what occasions the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe sees papers or attends meetings on energy issues. [9328]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 18 July 1997]: The Minister sees papers or attends meetings on energy issues if they are relevant to his ministerial responsibilities and do not give rise to conflicts of interest.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account was taken of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's shareholding in BP in respect of his signing European Community document CSE (97) 1 final 9000/97. [9651]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The single market is one of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's main areas of responsibility. That is why he signed EC document CSE (97) 1 final 9000/97. Arrangements are in place to ensure that the Minister is not involved in business which could give rise to a conflict of interest in relation to his BP shareholding.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions policies which might affect BP's actual or potential competitors have been discussed with, or in the presence of, the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. [9338]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: From his appointment, the Minister has ensured that he does not participate in discussions which could give rise to a conflict of interest between his ministerial responsibilities and his private interests.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions, and on which dates, she has discussed with the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe his BP and non-BP shareholdings. [9336]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 14 July, Official Report, column 68.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons she stated in her letter to the right hon. Member for Wokingham that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe had placed the generality of his investments in blind trusts. [9550]

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been put in place to ensure no conflict of interest arises for the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe in respect of his non-BP shareholdings. [9704]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answers 21 July 1997]: My letter of 4 July explained in general terms how the Minister had complied with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" in the light of discussions with the DTI permanent secretary. From his appointment on 7 May, he deliberately refrained from giving trading instructions to his bank in respect of any of his individual shareholding interests pending completion of the necessary trust arrangements. As that answer also made clear, the Minister put arrangements in place from the outset to match as closely as possible those of a blind trust until the blind trust arrangements could be completed, which they now have been.

Mr. Flight

To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe will renew his shareholding in BP next year. [9949]

Mr. Letwin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe will be allowed to hold his BP shares after the end of 1998. [9789]

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe will be obliged to take into account when reviewing in January 1998 whether to sell his BP shares. [9649]

Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe will be entitled to hold his BP shares beyond the next budget. [9798]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answers 21 July 1997]: The Minister will review the position before 1 January in the light of the guidance in "Questions of Procedures for Ministers", the circumstances at the time, and any advice he may obtain. He will continue to ensure that no conflict arises between his ministerial responsibilities and his private interests.

Mrs. May

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Minister of State for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe will handle(a) state aid and (b) gas liberalisation issues in Europe. [9831]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The Minister will handle such issues if they fall within his responsibilities and if they do not give rise to a conflict of interest with his private interest in BP.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what responsibility the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has for determining(a) whether to (i) subscribe for rights issue shares, (ii) take cash or share dividends, (iii) accept bids and (iv) accept demerger proposals and (b) how to receive windfall distributors on the holdings in his non-BP share portfolio. [9650]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: None. The Minister has now completed the arrangements to place his non-BP share portfolio in a blind trust.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the oral answer from the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry, of 3 July,Official Report, column 404, if the possession of a shareholding in BP prohibits the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe from participation in departmental discussion of energy issues. [9558]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The Minister sees papers or attends meetings on energy issues if they are relevant to his ministerial responsibilities and do not give rise to conflicts of interest.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Minister of Trade and Competitiveness in Europe will be taking part in the forthcoming discussions about competition and liberalisation in European gas markets. [9790]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The Minister for Science, Energy and Industry has primary responsibility for the UK's interest in liberalisation of EU gas markets. Lord Simon has responsibility for taking forward the UK's interests in completion of the single market. He is not involved in discussions or decisions which give rise to a conflict of interest.