§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the requirements are on officials in his Department to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for his departmental officials. [164702]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID follows Cabinet Office guidance on the disclosure of interests that is set out in Section 4.3 of the Civil Service Management Code. The letters of appointment for staff draw their attention to the rules on use of official information and related activities that are set out in full in our Staff Handbook. The Handbook states that employees must obtain permission from the Head of Human Resources (a Senior Civil Servant) before entering into any business or financial dealings with individuals or businesses with whom they come into official contact, either directly or indirectly. They must also declare immediately if, in the course of their work, they come into contact with an outside organisation in which they have an interest. We do not hold an official register of interests. There is no requirement to do so.