NHS: Topwood

(asked on 11th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he made contact with those responsible for the procurement of the Shared Business Services framework contract for Waste Management and Minimisation in 2019 to disclose his personal connection with Topwood Limited.


Answered by
Edward Argar Portrait
Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This question was answered on 20th May 2021

The Permanent Secretary discusses a range of issues with Ministers, including on propriety matters. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has discussed his declarations of interests with the Permanent Secretary and advice was provided. A record of all specific occasions where potential conflicts of interests were discussed is not held. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care discussed his declarations of interests with the then Deputy Cabinet Secretary.

Ministers have a duty to abide by the Ministerial Code, which states that:

“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.”

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