Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 75
Publish departmental board members' registers of interests and monitor conflict management clarity
Recommendation
We recommend that departments’ registers of board members’ interests be published on GOV.UK, as well as included in departments’ annual reports and accounts. These should be published in a consistent format, updated every six months, and include any relevant non-financial and private interests. The Government Lead Non-Executive should monitor departments to ensure that the governance statements of departments’ annual report and accounts provide sufficient clarity on how any real or perceived conflicts of interest are managed.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that a common and consistent format for registers of interests would be welcome but does not commit to the recommended frequency of six months or specific publication on GOV.UK, instead stating periodic publication via departmental websites.
Paragraph Reference:
75
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We agree that a common approach and consistent format for departments’ registers of board members’ interests would be welcome. The frequency of publication should be so that it maintains accuracy, but does not become an administrative burden. Within departments, changes in conflicts of interest should be disclosed and managed through the departmental governance as soon as they occur and notified at the start of the next board meeting. Public disclosure can then follow periodically via the departmental website.