Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2022 to Question 92905 on the date of introduction of the Department's anti-bribery policy, what anti-bribery policy was in force in his Department from 11 May 2010 to the date on which the current policy was introduced in 2018; and what rules were in force between those dates on the declaration of gifts and hospitality received by (a) officials and (b) Ministers.

Prior to the introduction of the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy in 2018, Department staff were subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-code/the-civil-service-code.

The Code specifies that:

“You must not:

• accept gifts or hospitality or receive other benefits from anyone which might reasonably be seen to compromise your personal judgement or integrity.”

The department also maintained, and continues to maintain, a Gift and Hospitality register for staff to record any such incidents.

Under the Transparency Agenda Gift and Hospitality data for Special Advisers and Ministers is published on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-special-advisers-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-2020, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-quarterly-returns-2010.