§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list all the shareholdings of Ministers in her Department and their wives or husbands, whether now held in a blind trust or not, including where they have been transferred, and the shares held at the point of transfer. [13045]
§ Mrs. BeckettNo. The Government have published the requirements on Ministers in the ministerial code; DTI Ministers are acting in accordance with these requirements. It has never been the practice of previous Ministers, including DTI Ministers, to publish details of their shareholdings, except insofar as this is required by the Register of Members' Interests; they have from time to time made public statements about their decision to stand aside from particular issues where that has been thought desirable in particular circumstances. This approach, reflecting that of previous Administrations to this issue, seems to the Government to satisfy the public interest.