§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those Ministers in his Department who(a) have interests in the letting of property and (b) use the letting and relocation company Cendant to let their properties or purchase other properties; and how many civil servants in his Ministry have used the services of Cendant (i) to relocate and (ii) to be housed. [146280]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 22 January 2001]: Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers are required to order their affairs so that no conflict arises or is thought to arise between their private interests and their public duties. Information about the personal interests of a Minister is a matter between him or her and the Department in which he or she works, as is the use of any letting company in relation to any such interests.
The Department has a contract with Cendant as one of its two relocation companies. Sixteen civil servants have used its services to relocate. None have used them to be housed.