Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference the guidance entitled Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality: Publication Guidance, published on 30 January 2025, whether hospitality from senior media executives, provided in a political or social context, must be declared through Ministerial returns.

The guidance on the publication of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality states that ministers should declare details of all hospitality received “in a ministerial capacity”. Hospitality received in a political or social context is not generally considered to be ministerial business and therefore does not need to be declared on the hospitality register.

However, the guidance further states that, in the course of any exempted hospitality (such as hospitality provided in a social context), “if…a minister entered into substantive discussions with a senior media figure, this should be considered under the guidance for meetings”. The guidance for meetings is available on GOV.uk at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance.