House of Commons · Ministerial Statement
18 May 2021 · 25 other contributors
Opened by Penny Mordaunt Con Constituency
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Penny Mordaunt raised concerns about ministerial code/register of ministers’ interests in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Government Statement
The Minister congratulated the right hon. Lady on her roles, apologised for the delay in publication of Ministers’ interests due to a recent vacancy and assured that Lord Geidt's revised terms of reference will ensure stronger independence and timely publication by end of month.
Question
What does the Minister suggest be done if another vacancy in the role of independent adviser arises so that the register is not delayed?
Minister reply
Delays are due to what the Government has had to deal with over the past 16 months. The appointment process is now in progress and the register will be published soon.
Question
Given David Cameron’s work for Greensill Capital, do the messages to senior officials about the company give cause for suspicion of impropriety? Will this be investigated by the independent adviser?
Minister reply
These issues are being looked at through reviews in train. It would not be appropriate to comment until these reviews have reported.
Question
Do my right hon. Friends accept the possibility of going further to increase Lord Geidt's independence?
Minister reply
Thanking John Penrose for his work on these matters, all things are under review and we want to ensure maximum transparency and public trust.
Question
Would an independent system clearing Ministers' names be in their interests?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister is the arbiter of the ministerial code, and all efforts are made to arrive at a condition with credibility and independence.
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the actions taken by this Government were both proportionate and necessary in sourcing PPE during the pandemic?
Minister reply
Yes, thanking Members for forwarding information and procurement teams for their efforts to ensure frontline workers had supplies.
Question
Would it make sense to publish the register every month with all relevant details?
Minister reply
Lord Geidt will take these matters forward, and suggestions such as publishing monthly are sensible.
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that throwing unsubstantiated mud for party political advantage is damaging?
Minister reply
It damages the private sector as well, without which we would not have been in a good state.
Question
How can the Prime Minister judge other Ministers' behaviour if he does not respect the ministerial code?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister respects and is the arbiter of the ministerial code.
Question
Is the Minister saying that no one has breached the ministerial code and this is all a misunderstanding?
Minister reply
Unsubstantiated allegations are wrong, but it's premature to make definitive statements.
Question
Is it not the case that every Member has a responsibility to forward offers of help and these were independently judged?
Minister reply
British business did an incredible job during the crisis, urging them to step up again if needed.
Question
Does the Minister agree that a judge-led inquiry with power to order production of evidence and take evidence on oath, with threat of appropriate sanctions for non-compliance and perjury or equivocation is needed?
Minister reply
The minister believes there are already multiple reviews in progress and does not think an additional inquiry is necessary.
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that if the Labour party had spent more time helping us fight the virus rather than banging on about wallpaper and PPE procurement, it could have gained back some trust from the British public?
Minister reply
The minister agrees with his friend but notes that constituents take a dim view of such characterisation.
Question
Does the rule in paragraph 1.3.c of the ministerial code still apply to Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament and does it also apply to the Prime Minister?
Minister reply
The minister states that the rule still applies, but characterises the question as smear and innuendo.
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that this attempt from the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne has more to do with her bid for votes from the Labour membership than with any concern about public procurement?
Minister reply
The minister agrees and suggests reflection on whether such actions are those of a leader.
Question
Can the Minister confirm that all Cabinet Ministers have resubmitted their interests and give a more precise date for when the new list will be published?
Minister reply
The minister confirms that she has filled out her form and suggests that Lord Geidt will publish the register before the end of the month.
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is right that Government Ministers did everything they could to get their skates on, as urged by the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne, and pass on all offers from businesses to help secure vital PPE at a time of national crisis?
Minister reply
The minister agrees and emphasises the efforts made by colleagues across the House in providing assistance.
Question
Is this an admin error or do the Government have something to hide? Will the Paymaster General please ask her colleague the Cabinet Secretary to respond to those questions?
Minister reply
The minister assures that the matter is under review and encourages the hon. Lady to return to matters of substance.
Question
Does the Paymaster General agree that unless the Labour party gets its act together and starts listening to the people and their concerns, it will remain the Opposition party?
Minister reply
The minister agrees but characterises recent actions as a load of flannel.
Question
If somebody in the Cabinet Office has broken the ministerial code, what is there to enforce their taking the right action and resigning from their position?
Minister reply
The ultimate responsibility lies with the Prime Minister.
Question
Will the Minister reassure that all offers to supply PPE were assessed by independent civil servants using a rigorous eight-stage process?
Minister reply
The minister assures and confirms that any contracts awarded went through the rigorous checks.
Question
Does the Minister agree that recent elections in Teesside show public support for decisive decision making over Labour party’s political point scoring?
Minister reply
The minister agrees and states that the public wants delivery and competence, not political point scoring.
Question
Does the Minister think now is the time to exempt a new Government agency with £800 million of public money from existing procurement and freedom of information rules?
Minister reply
The minister characterises the question as smear.
Question
I welcome the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne to her place but I am surprised that she is continuing with unsubstantiated allegations about the Government's record on transparency. Since 2010, this Government has strengthened the ministerial code and introduced requirements around publishing Minister’s interests and all Government contracts over £25,000.
Minister reply
That is absolutely correct, and I could add to the list the things that we have also done to increase transparency and accountability at a local government level.
Question
The Minister has been deflecting from the fact that there have been breaches of the ministerial code. Does she believe that simply trying to deny it or attacking anyone who tries to raise the issue is a satisfactory response to her earlier assertion that the public care about transparency and scrutiny?
Minister reply
I have said several times this afternoon that the public do care about that and they are right to do so. We should be here to answer questions about those issues. What I am not going to put up with is decent colleagues, decent businesses and members of the public being smeared by innuendo.
Shadow Comment
William WraggThe role of the independent adviser is crucial. The delay in publishing the Register of Ministers’ Interests was due to a vacancy after Sir Alex Allan's resignation. Suggestions were made on how to prevent future delays should such vacancies arise.