Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests

Thursday 14 July 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lord Geidt resigned as Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests, leaving the role vacant.
  • The Government stated that the appointment of a new adviser is a matter for the new Prime Minister.
  • Cabinet discussions on the conduct of certain MPs are minuted but details are not disclosed publicly.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East
Standards & Ethics
Context

Lord Geidt has recently resigned from his role as independent adviser on Ministers' interests. There is uncertainty about the future appointment of a replacement.

Question

Given Lord Geidt's resignation, I am concerned about whether the government will take steps to appoint an independent adviser on Ministers' interests. With no current adviser in place, there are worries about potential conflicts of interest and the lack of guidance on ministerial codes.

Answer from Kit Malthouse

The Government were sorry to receive Lord Geidt's resignation and are grateful for his work in the role. Any future appointment will need to be a matter for the new Administration, given that the adviser is a personal adviser to the Prime Minister and is appointed for a five-year fixed term.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps to appoint an independent adviser immediately or in the near future were not addressed.

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Q2 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Standards & Ethics
Context

There is uncertainty regarding the timing of appointing a new ethics adviser due to upcoming changes in government leadership.

Question

Given that there will be a delay with a new Prime Minister needing to appoint a new Cabinet, which then requires new Ministers, does this mean there could be delays in appointing an ethics adviser? Is it possible we might not see an ethics adviser until after the next Administration?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

That is obviously a matter for the new Prime Minister, but the hon. Lady should not labour under the misapprehension that the maintenance of standards and ethical advising is wanting in Government. In the absence of the adviser, that obviously falls to the various permanent secretaries in each Department, who are in any event the first line of assessment for many of those questions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timing of appointing an ethics adviser was not addressed.

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Q3 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Parliamentary Procedure Standards & Ethics
Context

There is a need to address the conduct of certain MPs and ensure transparency in Cabinet-level discussions regarding their actions.

Question

Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster confirm whether there have been any Cabinet-level discussions about the conduct of right hon. Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher) before or since his appointment as Deputy Chief Whip, and other MPs who may have conduct records that deserve investigation?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

I am afraid that I cannot tell the hon. Lady what we discuss in detail at Cabinet, but Cabinet is minuted and those minutes are available for public contemplation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific details of cabinet-level discussions on MP conduct were not provided.

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