Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish a new Ministerial Code of Conduct; and whether it will include (a) an explicit commitment to the seven Principles of Public Life, (b) an ability for the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests to initiate investigations into breaches of the code without needing the consent of the Prime Minister and (c) new restrictions on former ministers taking up outside employment through a deed of undertaking.

The Prime Minister intends to issue and publish an updated version of the Ministerial Code shortly, in which he will set out his expectations for the conduct of all who serve in Government as Ministers.