Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, If he will place a copy in the Library of the most recent guidance on undertaking due diligence for a (a) regulated public appointment, (b) direct ministerial appointment and (c) special adviser.

The requirements to conduct appropriate due diligence for regulated public appointments and direct ministerial appointments are set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments respectively, both of which are publicly available. The specific due diligence processes undertaken in each case will be those standard processes agreed by the Accounting Officer within each department for all appropriate due diligence undertaken by that department.

As with other civil servants, special advisers are subject to pre-employment checks and declaration of relevant interests. This is set out in the Code of Conduct and Model Contract for Special Advisers.