Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's policy is on officials declaring personal relationships with business interests of relevance to the Department; and what steps his Department takes to enforce that guidance.

The Department’s staff are expected to adhere to the Civil Service Code, as well as the Departmental human resources policy on business interests, which states:

“Staff must not be involved in taking any decision as part of their employment, 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. Staff must use the declarations of interest, hospitality and gifts database to record any business interest (including consultancies) or shareholdings (including directorships) which they, their partners or members of their immediate family or close relatives hold (to the extent they are aware of them), from which they might be able to benefit through their official position. They must comply with any subsequent advice from the Department regarding the retention, disposal or management of such interests.”

Declaration of interest returns should be updated as interests cease or arise and staff are reminded of the twice-yearly review process via the intranet and other staff communications. Nil returns are required. Failure to declare interests as required could result in a conduct and discipline investigation.