Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prospective Cabinet Members: Financial Affairs

Thursday 2 February 2023 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Successive Governments have preserved the ability for officials to provide advice to Ministers in confidence.
  • It would not be appropriate to comment specifically on any advice given during the ministerial appointments process.
  • An independent adviser was appointed to look into the tax affairs of a former Conservative party chair.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Standards & Ethics
Context

Discusses the issue of whether financial affairs of prospective Cabinet members are reviewed before appointments.

Question

Whether his Department receives advice on prospective Cabinet members' financial affairs before they are appointed.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Successive Governments have preserved the ability for officials to provide advice to Ministers in confidence. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment specifically on any advice in the ministerial appointments process. Ministers are required to declare all relevant interests and matters of concern.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about receiving financial advice before appointments were avoided

How: It Would Therefore Not Be Appropriate For Me To Comment Specifically On Any Advice In The Ministerial Appointments Process.

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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Standards & Ethics
Context

Concerns raised about the Prime Minister's promise of integrity due to reported informal warnings regarding a Cabinet member's tax affairs.

Question

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman is aware that I am not satisfied with his answer. It has been reported that the Prime Minister was given an informal warning about the tax affairs of the former Conservative party chair, and yet he still decided to appoint him to his Cabinet. If true, it means the Prime Minister's promise of integrity is completely meaningless. Can the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster confirm whether the Prime Minister was given an informal warning?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Lib Dem Members, and indeed other Opposition Members, continually say that the Government need to appoint an independent adviser. We appointed an independent adviser, who looked into all the facts of this case and produced an excellent report, and the Prime Minister took action. That is the way government should be conducted, and was conducted in these circumstances.

Not addressed: Specific confirmation about receiving informal warnings was avoided

How: We Appointed An Independent Adviser, Who Looked Into All The Facts Of This Case And Produced An Excellent Report

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