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Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
Questions
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13188
For each recusal from a decision within his portfolio due to a potential or perceived conflict of interest, since first assuming that portfolio, if any, who made the decision in his place?
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13190
How many times, if any, has he recused himself from a decision within his portfolio due to a potential or perceived conflict of interest, since first assuming that portfolio, listed by date of recusal?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister responsible for RMA Reform
Answer
I have met with the Cabinet Office on a number of occasions since my appointment as a Minister, to discuss or review conflicts of interest in relation to all of my portfolios. Details regarding conflicts of interest disclosed to the Cabinet Office are not generally released, in order to ensure the confidentiality of Cabinet proceedings, to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs, and in some cases, to protect personal privacy. This has been the approach of successive administrations because it is in the public interest that the Cabinet Office can obtain and assess information about conflicts of interest and provide advice to Ministers on how to resolve them on a confidential basis. The Cabinet Office proactively releases information about where conflicts of interests are managed by a transfer of responsibility on its website.