Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to Question 136906, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that the spouse of a Minister who has financial interests divests themselves of those interests upon the Minister taking office in his Department.

In accordance with the Ministerial Code, on appointment to each new office, Ministers must provide their Departmental Permanent Secretary with a full list in writing of all interests which might be thought to give rise to a conflict. This list also includes interests of the Minister's spouse or partner and close family which might be thought to give rise to a conflict. All Ministerial interest returns are reviewed by the Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests. Where appropriate the Minister will meet the Permanent Secretary and the Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests to agree action on the handling of interests.