Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 9 September (HC Deb col 578), whether Alan Milburn declared his financial interests to the Permanent Secretary; what steps have been taken to mitigate conflicts of interest in the advice from Mr Milburn; whether they will place a copy of any such declaration in the Library of the House; and whether Mr Milburn has signed a confidentiality agreement with the Department.

As the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care stated in Parliament on 9 September 2024, it is absolutely right that people appointed to roles in public life declare their conflicts of interest so that they can be assessed when taking decisions or exercising powers to ensure that they are doing so in a way that manages those conflicts of interest and no conflict arises. Alan Milburn does not have a role in the Department of Health and Social Care.

It is also entirely legitimate for Government Departments to invite people with a wide range of experience and insight to advise on policy debates and discussions. We do not ask them all to declare their interests.