HL Deb 20 April 2000 vol 612 c138WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the external commercial interests, insofar as they may exist, of special advisers employed by the Government are required to be declared; and, if so, to what extent they are subject to appropriate public and parliamentary scrutiny; and [HL1870]

Whether any of the special advisers working in 10 Downing Street have any external commercial interests which would give rise to either an actual or a perceived conflict of interest with their duties in the formulation of government policy. [HL1871]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Special a dvisers—like all civil servants—are required under paragraphs 4.3.8 and 4.3.9 of theCivil Service Management Code to declare to their departments any business interests or share holdings which they or members of their immediate family hold, to the extent which they are aware of them, which they would be able to further as a result of their official position. They must not be involved in taking any decisions which could affect the value of their private investments, or the value of those on which they give advice to others, or use information acquired in the course of their work to advance their private financial interests or those of others.