Guidance on ministerial meetings and foreign visits is to be strengthened following the cabinet secretary’s investigation into the allegations made against former defence secretary Liam Fox.

A report published yesterday found that Fox breached the ministerial code through his dealings with his friend Adam Werritty.

Werritty joined Fox at 22 meetings – one of which Werritty arranged – and on 18 foreign trips, despite not having a government role.

The report concludes that links between the men mean that donations given to Werritty “could at least be seen as giving rise to the perception of a conflict of interest”.

It identified two occasions on which Fox and Werritty attended meetings where government business was discussed but no officials were present. “Private office attendance was offered for both of the visits…and declined by Dr Fox,” says the report: “This should not have been allowed to happen.”

This situation has “exposed a gap” in dealing with concerns over ministerial behaviour that may initially seem minor but assume greater importance over time, says the report. “The system needs to be strengthened to allow such concerns to be aired between permanent secretaries and ministers”.

The report sets out a number of recommendations, all of which have been accepted by the prime minister. These include ensuring that officials attend all overseas meetings at which government business is to be discussed, and permanent secretaries regularly discussing conflict of interest issues with ministers.

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Written by CSW