Background to the guide

A conflict of interest is a set of circumstances that create a risk that an individual’s ability to apply judgement or act in a role that is, or could be, impaired or influenced by a secondary interest. The perception of competing interests, impaired judgment, or undue influence can also be considered a conflict.

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Conflicts of interest are a normal part of business in any organisation, but it is important to manage them well. It is particularly crucial for government given its duty to uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. Failure to recognise or mitigate against conflicts of interest can damage the reputation of, and undermine confidence in, the government and its operations.

Scope of the guide

Our guide is aimed at those who are responsible for developing conflicts of interest policies within public bodies. It will help them to put in place the systems and processes that will allow for effective management of declarations and mitigations.

It sits alongside our report into managing conflicts of interest, which found that systems for managing conflicts of interest in the civil service are not being implemented consistently.

The guide outlines what good looks like for:

  • Governance for conflicts of interest – ensuring effective scrutiny, which relies on leadership from key individuals in an organisation and effective challenge from the audit and risk committee
  • Declaring conflicts of interest – with a clear minimum standard expected of staff when it comes to the nature of conflicts that need to be declared and the frequency with which these declarations need to be made
  • Identifying conflicts of interest – staff need to have the right training and support to know what is expected of them
  • Managing conflicts of interest – good management information provides assurance that conflicts of interest are being effectively managed within an organisation

The guide also includes case study examples from public bodies in each of these areas.

How to use the guide

You can read our guide in one go or just dip into individual sections.

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