Financial interests
which may be relevant for registration: paragraph 13
NB Registrations relating to this paragraph should
be restricted to those interests which might reasonably be thought
by the public to affect in general the way in which Members of
the House discharge their parliamentary duties. A Member may have
additional interests, relevant in particular circumstances, which
will then require declaration in the context of those circumstances
(for example, a debate).
Shareholdings not amounting to a controlling interest:
paragraph 13(a)
This section only applies
to shareholdings not registered under paragraph 12(g) of the Code
and which constitute 5% or more of the issued share capital of
the company or body or which hold a nominal value of over £50,000.
Members entering shareholdings in this section should indicate
the nature of a company's business where it is not clear.
Landholdings: paragraph 13(b)
Entries in this section should
include foreign as well as domestic landholdings. The decision
as to what to register in this section must be one for the Member
of the House and will depend on the significance of the landholding.
Second homes need not be registered unless regularly let at commercial
rents. The nature of the holding and its general location should
be entered, but it is not necessary to include the acreage. The
expression "including residential property" is to be
taken as indicating that there are cottages etc. on the land which
may be let. For example "Farmland in Herefordshire, including
residential properties".
Interests of spouse or relative or friend: paragraph
13(c)
This section is not intended
necessarily to include the interest of a spouse etc. which would
have to be registered were that person a Member of the House.
The financial interest of a person other than a Member of the
House will only in very rare circumstances be suitable for inclusion
in the Register, even in cases where a declaration on the floor
of the House would be desirable. An entry in the Register might
be made in a case where an interest was so significant, and held
by a person whose relationship to the Member was so close, that
its existence might reasonably be thought to have a bearing on
his or her action. The advice of the Registrar should be sought
in all such cases.
Hospitality or gifts: paragraph 13(d)
This section applies only
to gifts or acts of hospitality which might reasonably be thought
to have been given in order to influence a Member's actions. Normally
gifts or hospitality of a value less than £1,000 are unlikely
to be considered significant for the purposes of the Register.
Members may however wish to make a declaration in respect of a
gift or act of hospitality of a lesser value in the context of
a particular debate. Gifts and the acceptance of hospitality should
be registered within one month of receipt and entries will remain
on the Register for a period of 3 years thereafter.
Non-financial interests
which are always relevant and must be registered: paragraph 15
NB Paragraph 17 of the Code states that Members of
the House are not obliged to register membership of Churches,
religious bodies or quasi-religious organisations.
Office-holder in voluntary organisations: paragraph
15(d)
The post of Patron is not
to be considered an office-holding for the purposes of this section.
Non-financial interests
which may be relevant for registration: paragraph 16
NB Registrations relating to this paragraph should
be restricted to those interests which might reasonably be thought
by the public to affect in general the way in which lords discharge
their parliamentary duties. A lord may have additional interests,
relevant in particular circumstances, which will then require
declaration in the context of those circumstances (for example,
a debate).
Other trusteeships: paragraph 16(a)
The post of Patron is not
to be considered a relevant interest for the purposes of this
section.
Voluntary organisations: paragraph 16(b)
It is not necessary to declare
membership of those organisations where membership is open to
all for the payment of a fee, e.g. the National Trust.
