Code of Conduct
- The Animal Procedures Committee is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under section 19 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
- Members of the Committee are responsible for ensuring that the Committee fulfils its statutory duty as set out in section 20 of the 1986 Act:
""To advise the Secretary of State on such
matters concerned with this Act and his functions under it as the
Committee may determine or as may be referred to the Committee by
the Secretary of State".
- The 1986 Act adds that:
- In its consideration of any matter the Committee shall
have regard both to the legitimate requirements of science and industry
and to the protection of animals against avoidable suffering and unnecessary
use in scientific procedures;
- The Committee may perform any of its functions by means
of sub-committees and may co-opt as members of any sub-committee any
persons considered by the Committee to be able to assist that sub-committee
in its work;
- The Committee may promote research relevant to its
functions and may obtain advice or assistance from other persons with
knowledge or experience appearing to the Committee to be relevant to
those functions;
- iv. The Committee shall in each year make a report
on its activities to the Secretary of State who shall lay copies of
the report before Parliament; and
- Members of the Committee shall be appointed for such
periods as the Secretary of State may determine but no such period shall
exceed four years and no person shall be re-appointed more than once.
- The Secretary of State for the Home Department (or, in Northern Ireland, for the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland)is answerable to Parliament for the performance of the Committee, including the policy framework within which it operates.
- To ensure its accountability in carrying out its duties,
the Committee will seek to work as openly as possible, complying with
the Code
of Practice on Access to Government Information.
- Members are required to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life endorsed by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life and to comply with this Code
- Each member must at all times act in good faith and observe the highest standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to the conduct of the Committee's business. In particular, members should:
- familiarise themselves with the terms of reference
of the Committee;
- undergo any required induction training;
- iii. declare any personal or business interest which
may, or may be perceived (by a reasonable member of the public), to
influence their judgement. This should include, as a minimum, personal
direct and indirect pecuniary interests, and should normally also include
such interests of close family members and of people living in the same
household. A register of interests
will be kept up-to-date and will be open to the public;
will be kept up-to-date and will be open to the public;
- iv. not participate in the discussion or determination of matters in which they have a personal or business interest, and should normally withdraw from the meeting (even if held in public) if their interest is direct and pecuniary;
- make a declaration of interest at any Committee meeting
if it relates specifically to a particular issue under consideration,
for recording in the minutes (whether or not a Committee member withdraws
from the meeting);
- vi. not misuse information gained in the course of their public service for personal gain or for political purpose, nor seek to use the opportunity of public service to promote their private interests or those of connected persons, firms, businesses or other organisations;
- vii. not hold any paid, or high-profile unpaid, posts in a political party, and not engage in specific party political activities on matters directly affecting the work of the Committee. When engaging in other political activities, members should be conscious of their public role and exercise proper discretion; and
- viii. understand and accept that they are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of organisations by which they are employed or with which they have significant contacts.
- The Chair has particular responsibility for providing effective leadership
to the Committee and for:
- ensuring that the Committee meets at appropriate intervals,
and that the minutes of meetings and any reports to the Secretary of
State accurately record the decisions taken, and where appropriate,
the views of individual members;
- representing the views of the Committee to Ministers;
- representing, where appropriate, the views of the Committee
to the general public;
- ensuring that new members are briefed on appointment;
and
- sitting on the panel which advises Ministers on new
appointments and re-appointments.
- Notwithstanding 8(ii) above, any Committee member has the right of access to Ministers on any matter, which he or she believes raises important issues relating to his or her duties as a Committee member. In such cases, the agreement of the rest of the Committee should normally be sought.
- Committee members may be personally liable if, in the performance of their Committee duties, they make a fraudulent or negligent statement, which results in a loss to a third party. They may also commit:
- an offence under section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures)
Act 1986;
- a breach of confidence under common law; or
- a criminal offence under insider dealing legislation
if they misuse information gained through their position on the Committee.
Individual members who have acted honestly, reasonably, in good faith
and without negligence will not, however, have to meet out of their
own personal resources any personal civil liability which is incurred
in execution or purported execution of their duties.
- In accepting this Code of Conduct members accept that they will not
disclose any information or documents if they are marked "Restricted"
and not disclose any subsequent comments about material which has been
marked "Restricted". Members also undertake not to make copies of any
such documents, and to follow the advice provided by the Chairman and
Secretariat about the handling of such documents.
APC Secretariat
February 2004
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