Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ministers’ Interests: Transparency

Thursday 18 January 2024 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government has an established process for the declaration and management of Ministers' interests as per the ministerial code.
  • Independent adviser on ministers' interests publishes a twice-yearly list of Ministers' interests, with interim updates as necessary.
  • Response to a question about foreign state interests referred the inquirer to the latest list published on 14 December 2023.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Standards & Ethics
Context

There is a need to ensure the transparency of declarations by ministers regarding their interests.

Question

What recent discussions has the government had with the independent adviser on ministers' interests to ensure transparency in the declarations?

Answer from Esther McVey

There is an established process for the declaration and management of Ministers' interests as set out in the ministerial code. The independent adviser on ministers' interests publishes a twice-yearly list of Ministers' interests, with interim updates issued when necessary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Recent discussions and specific measures taken to enhance transparency were not detailed.

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Q2 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
Standards & Ethics
Context

Concerns about the public's ability to trust politicians when their financial interests are not transparently declared.

Question

How can the public trust their politicians when that money is hidden from public scrutiny, given that Prime Minister and four Ministers hold their wealth in blind trusts or managements?

Answer from Esther McVey

There are established regimes in place for the declaration and management of Ministers' interests, overseen by an independent adviser who publishes reports twice a year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to address hidden financial interests were not provided.

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Q3 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
Standards & Ethics
Context

Concerns about the disclosure requirements for UK politicians with interests from foreign states, even when held in blind trusts.

Question

Will any new requirement be placed on UK politicians to disclose in full interests from foreign states, even when those are in blind trusts or managements?

Answer from Esther McVey

I refer the hon. Lady to the latest list of Ministers' interests published on 14 December 2023, which included relevant interests of all Ministers forming the Government as of that date, including the Foreign Secretary. Our approach with China remains unchanged and is robustly in line with our G7 and Five Eyes partners.

Not addressed: The questioner's specific ask about new disclosure requirements was not addressed.

How: Discussed An Unrelated Topic

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