Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral answer of 25 April 2024, whether the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has recused himself from any aspects of his role.

Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their ministerial position and their private interests, financial or otherwise.

There is an established regime in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. The Foreign Secretary has declared his interests in line with this process. Those interests judged, by the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, to be relevant to his ministerial role have been published in the List of Ministers’ Interests, which is available on GOV.UK.

As set out in the Ministerial Code, it is the personal responsibility of each Minister to decide whether and what action is needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict, taking account of advice received from their Permanent Secretary and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ interests.