If during a Cabinet meeting any scheduled or unscheduled item raises issues where a Minister has, or could be perceived to have, a conflict of interest, the Minister should notify the Chair, declare the conflict, and leave the meeting room for the duration of deliberations on that agenda item.

In this context, conflict of interest can be broadly defined as a situation where a Minister and/or an immediate family member could benefit as private individuals as a result of a decision taken by the Cabinet. This could occur, for example, where a Minister or close family member is a shareholder of a company that stands to gain from a decision by the Cabinet.

The Secretary to the Cabinet shall note the Minister’s declaration and include it in the records of the meeting. Further guidance on what constitutes a conflict of interest in the Cabinet context may be sought from the Cabinet Office or the Attorney General’s Office.