Mike Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rules applied to the acceptance by his Department of hospitality from bidders during the process of awarding the Firelink contract; and what assessment he has made of compliance with such rules. [57144] Jim Fitzpatrick: There are standard departmental rules in relation to the acceptance of gifts, benefits and hospitality. The rules on the acceptance of hospitality are set out in the Staff Handbook. An overriding rule governing the acceptance of gifts, benefits and hospitality is that: conduct in a private capacity must not foster the suspicion of any conflict between your official duty and private interests; conduct whilst acting in an official capacity must not give the impression—to any member of the public, to any organisation with whom you deal or to your colleagues—that you have been (or may have been) influenced by a gift or consideration to show favour or disfavour to any person or organisation; you must not accept any gifts, benefits or hospitality—either directly or through a third party (i.e., a family member or friend) that would, or might appear to: place you under any obligation to an individual or organisation making the offer; compromise your impartiality or otherwise be improper;
any gifts, benefits or hospitality must be refused if either you or the Office are in any doubt about the propriety of accepting them. The Permanent Secretary is final arbiter on the advisability of acceptance or refusal of gifts, hospitality, etc. I am assured that officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister adhered fully to these. | 
