Handcock's Family Matters

 

It has been reported that Topwood Ltd, a company in which Health Secretary Matt Hancock and his sister have shares won contracts from NHS Wales.

NHS Wales gave the company, which specialises in the secure storage, shredding and scanning of documents, £300,000 of business this year.

 In March this year, Mr Hancock declared in the MPs' register of interests that he had acquired more than 15% of the shares of a company called Topwood Ltd. However, the register did not mention that his sister Emily Gilruth owned a larger portion of the shares and is a director of the firm, or that Topwood has links to the NHS.

The ministerial code states that family connections are meant to be disclosed.

The BBC reports that a Department of Health source said Mr Hancock had discussed the fact he was to be gifted shares in the firm with civil servants before he accepted them.

They ruled that if any conflicts of interest were to arise, they could be handled in line with the ministerial code, the rulebook setting out the standards of conduct for ministers.

The department also said the health secretary had no active role in running Topwood, and as health secretary for England, he had no responsibility for NHS Wales.

A government spokesperson said: 

"Mr Hancock has acted entirely properly in these circumstances. All declarations of interest have been made in accordance with the ministerial code. Ministers have no involvement in the awarding of these contracts, and no conflict of interest arises."

Well this is all very well, but it comes back to the issue of ministers and their dealings not just being honest and above board but also appearing to be honest and above board.

Handcock should ave realised how this must look!