Eurosai presentation: acceptance of gifts and hospitality
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The investigation reviewed policies on gifts and hospitality within the UK civil service and compared them to international standards. It found that while guidance prohibited actual conflicts of interest, some departments' guidance did not clearly define gifts and hospitality or require all offers to be recorded. Analysis of registers found that some senior officials frequently accepted hospitality from certain organizations. A small number of acceptances were questionable in terms of purpose or proportionality. The report concluded oversight and controls over gifts and hospitality needed strengthening to address weaknesses and ensure public trust.
Eurosai presentation: acceptance of gifts and hospitality
- 1. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality 2 February 2017 An investigation in the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Paul Wright-Anderson
- 2. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Ethics and trust in government The problem: Potential conflicts of interest arise as officials engage with a range of external organisations to carry out their work effectively UK civil service rules (set by Cabinet Office) Officials are allowed to accept gifts and hospitality They must guard against any reasonable suspicion of perceived or actual conflicts of interest United Nations Officials are prohibited from accepting gifts or hospitality from actual or potential suppliers to the UN European Union Officials should not accept direct or indirect gifts or hospitality from third parties The EU may authorise gifts and hospitality where it will not compromise, or be perceived to compromise, objectivity and independence
- 3. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality What we did Reviewed policy and guidance Considered what good practice looked like Interviewed key individuals in Cabinet Office and 3 depts HMRC, BIS, MOD Collected and analysed published data on gifts and hospitality Obtained and analysed three case study departments gift and hospitality registers Estimated the monetary value of gifts and hospitality Analysed civil service survey results
- 4. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Findings 1: Assessment of the guidance and registers All case study departments had guidance. Guidance was consistent with the Civil Service principles, but fell short of good practice in some areas Some guidance was not clear on what constituted gifts and hospitality Registers was sometimes hard to locate and were sometimes not collated centrally Most guidance did not require all offers to be recorded Some departments did not require managers to review registers Accounting Officer not given assurance in one department 5/17 departments had not published all of their transparency data for hospitality.
- 5. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Findings 2: Senior officials acceptance of gifts and hospitality, by department, 2012-2015
- 6. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Findings 3: Senior officials accepted hospitality frequently from some organisations, 2012-2015
- 7. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Findings 4: Providers of hospitality to MOD project/procurement trading arm, 2014-15
- 8. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Findings 5: Review against principles of civil service code Small minority of cases where there were problems. Some examples where might not comply with purpose: Football matches, art exhibitions, movie premiere, tours of entertainment attractions, accompanied by partner and/or children. Some examples where might not comply with proportionality: People accepting hospitality from same provider 20+ times Dinners in top restaurants e.g. Savoy Grill iPads Some examples where risk of perception of a conflict of interest: Defence suppliers, e.g. dinner and drinks for 26 officials on completion of a project
- 9. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Report conclusion Public officials are sometimes offered gifts and hospitality by external stakeholders which it is reasonable for them to accept. This can, however, present a risk of actual or perceived conflicts of interest, and undermine value for money or affect governments reputation. While most, but not all, cases declared by officials appear on the face of it to be justifiable in the normal course of business, we found some weaknesses in the oversight and control of gifts and hospitality. This needs to be addressed by the Cabinet Office and departments. Amyas Morse
- 10. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Challenges in completing the audit Initial difficulty obtaining some registers Possibility that registers were incomplete Lack of detail in the records Ensuring balanced presentation in report We cleared report extracts with 70 organisations!
- 11. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Significant interest in the media
- 12. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Impacts Responses in case study departments More prompt publication of transparency data Departments sharing good practice - network set up Audit Committee interest
- 13. An investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality Thank you! Any questions?