The Treasury Minister has outlined the rules governing public servants who have financial or commercial interests outside their government roles.
The information came to light following a written question from Middle MHK Stu Peters.
In his response, Treasury Minister Chris Thomas said the Code of Conduct for Public Servants sets the baseline: employees must not make decisions for personal financial gain, nor place themselves under obligations to outside organisations that could influence their official duties.
Conflicts of Interest
The Minister highlighted several sections of the Public Services Commission Civil Service Regulations 2015, which give more detailed guidance:
- Civil servants must not allow private interests to conflict with their official duties, nor use their position to further those interests.
- Government contracts cannot be awarded to a civil servant, a partnership they belong to, or a company where they are a director, unless the interest is declared and the Accounting Officer gives explicit permission.
- No purchases or sales for the government may be made to or from a civil servant without the Accounting Officer’s approval.
- Staff must not negotiate or arbitrate on any government matter where they have a private interest.
- If a civil servant encounters an issue involving a business in which they have an interest, the matter must be reassigned to another officer.
Restrictions
Regulation A4 states that civil servants must seek approval before taking any secondary employment.
They must not accept roles or engage in activities, including self‑employment, that could interfere with their official duties or conflict with departmental interests.
Mr Thomas also pointed to:
- A Council of Ministers Staff Guidance Note on conflicts of interest (issued in 2007).
- Financial Regulations, which require officers to avoid using their public position to further private interests and to declare any actual or perceived conflicts to their Budget Holder, who must record them in a conflicts register.
- A requirement under Financial Practice Note C.01 that any consultant engaged by a Designated Body must be reported to the Assessor of Income Tax before payment; a rule that also applies where an employee has an interest in the commercial entity providing services.
