List of relevant ministerial private interests

Ministerial Code requirement

Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their ministerial position and their private interests, financial or otherwise.

On appointment to each new office and for each new subsequent financial year, ministers must provide the Permanent Secretary with a full list in writing of all interests which might be thought to give rise to a conflict. Individual declarations, and a note of any action taken in respect of individual interests, are then passed to the Permanent Secretary to provide advice on any further action as appropriate. The list being published today records the relevant interests held by ministers at the time of publication. Further information on the categories of interest disclosed is contained in the Appendix.

The declarations that ministers provide are treated in confidence. This allows for the fullest possible disclosure even where matters may not necessarily be relevant.

The published list contains relevant ministerial interests’ current at the date of publication. It also includes any relevant Member of the Senedd declarations. Where a minister has disposed of a relevant interest, or where they did so before taking up ministerial office, it is not included in the list. The list sets out interests currently held by ministers, or their close family members, which are, or might reasonably be perceived to be, directly relevant to a minister’s ministerial responsibilities. It also provides details of charities where a Minister is a trustee or patron. In addition, ministers may have other associations with charities or non-public organisations, for example, as constituency Member of the Senedd. Such associations may be historic, lapsed or the minister may not be actively involved.

The published list is not an account of all the interests or financial arrangements held by a minister or members of their close family. If it were, it would involve unjustifiable intrusion into the private affairs not only of ministers, but of their close family. Rather it is a list of any such interests, which are, or might reasonably be perceived to be, directly relevant to that particular minister’s public duties. All interests declared by ministers are held by the Permanent Secretary.

(Cardiff West)

(Pontypridd)

(Delyn)

(Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney)

(Gower)

(Cardiff South & Penarth)

(Wrexham)

(Vale of Glamorgan)

(Swansea West)

(Neath)

(Mid & West Wales)

(Cardiff North)

(Torfaen)

(Llanelli)

On appointment, ministers are asked to provide their relevant interests in a number of categories.

1. Financial interests - The list includes directly relevant interests held by a minister. It is not therefore a list of all financial interests including all investments or loans held by a minister. It indicates where financial interests are held in a blind trust or similar blind management arrangement. Blind Trusts and blind management arrangements are longstanding mechanisms for protecting ministers in the handling of their interests. They ensure ministers are not involved in decisions on the management, acquisition, or disposal of items in the arrangement and do not have live knowledge of the contents of such arrangements.

2. Directorships and shareholdings - Shareholdings are not listed where they are considered to be de minimis in nature. While ministers would not normally retain directorships while in office, on some specific circumstances it may be acceptable for a directorship to be retained, for example in connection with the management of a residential property or family enterprise, subject to specific undertakings to avoid any conflict.

3. Partnerships or other business interests.

4. Investment Property - In line with the Member of the Senedd Registers of Interests, property owned and/or occupied by ministers solely for their own use is not included in the List.

5. Any sponsorship/membership from/of a trade union (sponsorship as declared in their Senedd Member declaration).

6. Any Public Appointments held- most public appointments are relinquished on appointment to ministerial office. Where exceptionally it is proposed that such an appointment should be retained Ministers are expected to seek the advice of their Permanent Secretary. 

7. Links with organisations including charities, not for profit organisations, community organisations, etc. In addition to those listed, ministers may have other associations not relevant to their ministerial interests with charities or non-public organisations, for example, as constituency Members. Such associations may be historic, lapsed or the minister may not be actively involved.

8. Any other relevant interests including relevant interests of a close family member. While there may be interests of close family of a minister that might be thought to give rise to a conflict with their ministerial responsibilities, it is also important to consider their right to a degree of privacy over their affairs. Accordingly, interests which are not directly relevant or on consideration do not in fact give rise to a conflict, but may give rise to public comment, are not within the scope of the List. What counts as close family will depend on a case-by-case basis. Ministers cannot be expected to know the detail of the affairs of all those they are related to, but where they have close and ongoing contact, they should take reasonable steps to ensure they adhere to their responsibilities within the Ministerial Code.

9. Details of any disputes with, or investigation by, HM Revenue and Customs or Welsh Revenue Authority.