Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2017 to Question 107371, who drafted the document entitled Professor Dieter Helm - declaration of interest.

The independent Cost of Energy Review was carried out by Professor Dieter Helm and published on 25 October.

Professor Helm has been subject to the Nolan Principles of conduct in public life throughout the conduct of his review, and committed to not advise clients in the energy sector throughout, and to not make changes to relevant financial interests until fourteen days after he submitted the report.

All evidence shared by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with Professor Helm is in the public domain. BEIS does not hold non-public information on any of Professor Helm’s financial interests.

This was an independent review. The Government will consider Professor Helm’s recommendations and will shortly be seeking the views of industry, academics, businesses and consumer groups on the review.

Given the long-term nature of the issues considered in the review, and the steps set out above, it would not be proportionate to restrict Professor Helm’s future activities.