Transparency data

Update to the List of Ministers’ Interests: July 2023 (HTML)

Updated 14 December 2023

Introduction

This publication is an update to the List of Ministers’ Interests issued on 19 April 2023. It provides details of the relevant interests held by 10 ministers who have been appointed (either as new members of the Government or with new roles) between 27 March 2023 and the date of publication.

There is an expectation, as set out in my terms of reference, that the Independent Adviser will publish a List of Ministers’ Interests twice each year. I am committed to maintaining this publication rhythm and consider that the six-monthly frequency of the list is appropriate in light of the fact that ministers’ interests remain relatively static once in office. I recognise, however, that where a minister is appointed shortly after a list has been published, there could be a gap of a few months before information on their interests is made public. This interim update is intended to address this.
I am content that any actual, potential and perceived conflicts have been or are in the process of being resolved. It is important, however, that ministers and their permanent secretaries remain vigilant in the context of their respective ministerial portfolios if ministers’ private interests change. The next full list of ministers’ interests will be published in the autumn.

Sir Laurie Magnus CBE

Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests

July 2023

Note on update

1. This update should be read in conjunction with the List of Ministers’ Interests (PDF, 352 KB) published on 19 April 2023, which provides detailed information on the categories of interests declared by ministers and how interests are managed (Section 2, pages 4-6). Further explanation of the ministerial interests process is provided in the Independent Adviser’s Annual Report 2022-23 (Section 2, pages 4-7).
2. As set out in the Ministerial Code, the overriding principle that applies to ministers’ management of any private interests is that ‘ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise’. Ministers take personal responsibility for deciding whether and what action is needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict. They are supported in such decisions by advice from their permanent secretaries and the Independent Adviser. The Independent Adviser makes public those interests he considers relevant to the ministerial role being performed, including those which may or may not (e.g. in the case of specific shareholdings) be available in the parliamentary registers of interests in which all ministers maintain entries by virtue of their roles as MPs and peers.
3. The Ministerial Code requires that a statement covering relevant interests be published twice yearly. This statement takes the form of a list of ministers’ interests. A role of the Independent Adviser is to advise on what it is necessary to publish within the list. The list is not a register of interests and does not therefore include every interest that a minister has declared in relation to themselves and their family members. To do so would represent an excessive degree of intrusion into the private affairs of ministers that would be unreasonable, particularly in respect of their family members. The list instead documents those interests, including of close family, which are, or may be perceived to be, directly relevant to a minister’s ministerial responsibilities. The list also provides details of charities and non-public organisations where a minister has a role, for example as a trustee or patron.

Cabinet Office

The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office (member of Cabinet)

5. Charities and non-public organisations

• Patron, Watford Peace Hospice
• Honorary Chair, Conservative Friends of Business

Department for Media and Sport

The Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries and Minister of State (Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure)

5. Charities and non-public organisations

• Patron, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome

6. Any other relevant interests

• Fellow, Royal Society of Arts

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• A family member works for Sony Music
• A family member works for Hanover Communications

Ministry of Defence

James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State

5. Charities and non-public organisations

• Patron, Shotley Pier Group

6. Any other relevant interests

• Wattisham airfield is in South Suffolk, near the minister’s constituency
• Hadleigh Castings (defence contractor) and MEL Aviation are located in the minister’s constituency

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• The minister’s spouse/partner is director of, and shareholder in, Share to Buy Limited, a shared ownership property portal
• A family member is involved in consultancy work that could potentially include defence interests and is a paid adviser to AERALIS
• A family member works in cyber security

Department for Business and Trade

The Earl of Minto, Minister of State

1. Financial interests

• Beneficiary of a family trust

2. Directorships and shareholdings

• Non-Executive Chairman, Not Another Bill Limited
• Shareholdings in Persimmon and WHSmith

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• A family member works for an investment management service

The Lord Offord of Garvel, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Exports) and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

2. Directorships and shareholdings

• Director of and majority shareholder in, Badenoch & Co Limited
• Director, Badenoch Investments Limited
• Director, Badenoch Advisors Limited (dormant)
• Director, Badenoch Partners Limited (dormant)
• Director, The Borders Distillery
• Director, Peleus Property Ltd
• Director, Peleus Property First GP Ltd
• The minister has a range of shareholdings, as declared in the House of Lords Register. These include an interest in The Borders Distillery Limited and Cashmaster (Holdings) Limited.

5. Charities and non-public organisations

• Director and trustee, Badenoch Trust

As set out in paragraph 10 of the introduction to the April 2023 List of Ministers’ Interests (PDF, 352 KB)^{[footnote 1]}, the entries for this department in particular should be read alongside the relevant entries in the House of Commons Register of Members’ Financial Interests^{[footnote 2]} and the House of Lords Register of Interests.^{[footnote 3]}

Ministry of Justice

Alex Chalk KC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State (member of Cabinet)

6. Any other relevant interests

• Non-practising member of 6KBW chambers
• Member, Middle Temple Inn of Court

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• The minister’s spouse/partner is a practising barrister

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

The Rt Hon Chloe Smith MP, Secretary of State (member of Cabinet)

5. Charities and non-public organisations

• Member, Wensum Academy Trust
• Steering group member, Norwich for Jobs Strategic Board
• Member, Great Eastern Mainline Rail Taskforce
• Patron, YMCA Norfolk
• Patron, Eating Matters
• Patron, Surviving Together
• Honorary VP, Norfolk and Norwich Novi Sad Association

6. Any other relevant interests

• The University of East Anglia and Norwich Research Park are all located within Norwich.
• Member, Norwich Town Deals Board
• Member, South Norfolk and Broadland District Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan Board

The Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries and Minister of State (Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure)

(See entry under DCMS)

As set out in paragraph 10 of the introduction to the April 2023 List of Ministers’ Interests (PDF, 352 KB)^{[footnote 4]}, the entries for this department in particular should be read alongside the relevant entries in the House of Commons Register of Members’ Financial Interests^{[footnote 5]} and the House of Lords Register of Interests.^{[footnote 6]}

Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland

The Lord Offord of Garvel, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Exports) and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

(See entry under Business and Trade)

HM Treasury

Gareth Davies MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury

1. Financial interests

• Stocks and Shares ISA
• Pension and investment accounts including a National Savings and Investments account

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• The minister’s spouse/partner is a research analyst at, and stock holder in, the investment management company MFS.
• A family member is a civil servant
• A family member works for an offshore wind company

As set out in paragraph 10 of the introduction to the April 2023 List of Ministers’ Interests (PDF, 352 KB)^{[footnote 7]}, the entries for this department in particular should be read alongside the relevant entries in the House of Commons Register of Members’ Financial Interests^{[footnote 8]} and the House of Lords Register of Interests.^{[footnote 9]}

Baronesses and Lords in Waiting

Baroness Swinburne, Government Whip

2. Directorships and shareholdings

• The minister retired as an equity partner of KPMG with effect from 21 June 2023. The minister has ceased all operational involvement with the firm with effect from that date and is now financially independent of the Partnership.

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• A family member works for a stock exchange

Lord Mott OBE, Government Whip

2. Directorships and shareholdings

• Director, Mott Advisory Limited
• Board Member and Director, Conservative Party Foundation Limited

5. Charities and non-public organisations

• Mentor, Patchwork Foundation

7. Relevant interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• The minister’s spouse/partner is a special adviser

1. LIST OF MINISTERS’ INTERESTS - April 2023 (PDF, 352 KB) ↩

2. Register of Members’ Financial Interests ↩

3. Register of Interests - Members of the House of Lords ↩

4. LIST OF MINISTERS’ INTERESTS - April 2023 (PDF, 352 KB) ↩

5. Register of Members’ Financial Interests ↩

6. Register of Interests - Members of the House of Lords ↩

7. LIST OF MINISTERS’ INTERESTS - April 2023 (PDF, 352 KB) ↩

8. Register of Members’ Financial Interests ↩

9. Register of Interests - Members of the House of Lords ↩