Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 19 September, whether the Cabinet Office holds a Ministerial Code declaration made to the Permanent Secretary when Jessica Sarjeant was appointed as a civil servant; and if so, whether they will place a copy of the declaration in the Library of the House.

The Cabinet Office does not comment on individuals.

The Ministerial Code sets out 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.'

The Code also sets out that 'The personal information which Ministers disclose to those who advise them is treated in confidence. However, a statement covering relevant Ministers’ interests will be published twice yearly.'