NAO chief to advise on ministerial interests

National Audit Office chief Sir John Bourne is to police potential conflicts of interest for Government ministers.

The move follows written questions posed by Tessa Jowell following an investigation of her partner's business affairs.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life has welcomed a "belated but positive response" by the Government on potential conflicts of interest and breaches of the Ministerial Code.

The Committee said that it had made repeated warnings about the inadequacies of the present system for advising Ministers on potential conflicts of interest and investigating allegations of breaches of the Ministerial Code.

The Government has appointed the head of the National Audit Office, Sir John Bourne, to act as Adviser.

In a statement the Committee said it: "Awaits the opportunity to consider the details about how the new arrangements will work, and these details will need to be set out in revisions to the Ministerial Code.

"The Committee will assess the proposed arrangements against criteria of independence, openness, such as the publication of findings on alleged breaches, and role clarity as set out in its Ninth Report in 2003.

This report set out detailed recommendations to enable the investigation of complaints about alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code to carry public confidence.

In particular the appointment of an independent office-holder, called the Adviser on Ministerial Interests, to advise an incoming Minister on what arrangements to make to ensure that actual or perceived conflicts of interest do not arise between Ministers' public duties and their private interests, and to maintain a record of ministerial interests which Ministers would be required to disclose.

(SP/GB)