HC Deb 27 October 1998 vol 318 c134W
Mr. Forth

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1998,Official Report, column 1050, and the recommendations in the Fifth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life concerning blind trusts, if an alternative arrangement to the blind trust for Lord Sainsbury's shareholdings will be made. [56377]

Mr. Mandelson

No. The blind trust for Lord Sainsbury's shareholdings was set up in accordance with the guidance in the Ministerial Code as one of the means of avoiding actual or potential conflicts of interest between a Minister's public responsibilities and private interests. The recommendations in the Fifth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life do not require any changes in blind trusts of this type.