Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 of the Code of Practice for Members of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, whether the Committee must record the reasons why a member has declared a relevant interest relating to an individual application.

With the exception of appointments made by the relevant political parties, appointments to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition. The detailed information requested is not held.

As set out in the Advisory Committee’s Code of Practice, members must declare and record relevant interests relating to individual applications received for outside appointments. Where a member recuses him or herself from consideration of an application this is recorded in the Committee’s final advice, which is published on its website.