Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether trade union activity must be declared by people who are appointed to regulated public appointments.

The Governance Code on Public Appointments requires that candidates for regulated public appointments must be asked to declare potential conflicts of interest in their application. It is the responsibility of the Advisory Assessment Panel to satisfy itself that all candidates for appointment can meet the standards set out in the Seven Principles of Public Life and have no conflicts of interest that would call into question their ability to perform the role. All potential conflicts of interest and how they might be managed must be discussed with an individual during the interview. A potential conflict should not preclude a candidate from being shortlisted or appointed provided that appropriate arrangements are made.