Guidance

Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality: Publication Guidance

Published 30 January 2025

Purpose

1. In November 2024, the Ministerial Code was updated with new guiding principles on the acceptance and declaration of gifts and hospitality (see paragraphs 3.21 - 3.28 of the Ministerial Code for more details). 

2. The Code also requires the Cabinet Office to publish a central monthly Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality including details of gifts received and given by ministers in their ministerial capacity valued at more than £140, and details of hospitality above de minimis levels received by ministers in their ministerial capacity. As outlined in the Code, the monthly Register includes more information about ministers’ hospitality to align more closely with the parliamentary registers: specifically, the nature and where possible the estimated value of the hospitality. The purpose of this guidance is to set out the process that departments should follow to meet that requirement. 

3. There is separate guidance on the process for publishing:

• ministers’ overseas travel and meetings with external organisations and individuals;
• special advisers’ gifts and hospitality received, and meetings with senior media figures; and, 
• senior officials’ business expenses, hospitality received and meetings with external organisations and individuals.

Ministerial returns

4. Departments must complete a return for gifts (given and received) and hospitality (received) for each minister. This includes instances where the minister has nothing to declare, in which case a ‘Nil Return’ should be reported. 

5. Where a minister has responsibilities in more than one department, the relevant departments should liaise on that minister’s transparency returns. These departments should normally aim to avoid duplication between their returns, distinguishing gifts and hospitality entries based on the duties performed for each department. 

6. Where a minister is unable to submit a return on time, e.g. because of illness, ‘return pending’ should be reported and the entry updated as soon as possible.

7. Whilst departments should prepare returns on behalf of ministers, ministers retain responsibility for the accuracy of their transparency content. Ministers, or the senior private secretary (where the minister is content to delegate approval), should be invited to clear the return prior to publication. 

8. Please note that gifts and hospitality given to ministers in their ministerial capacity do not need to be declared in the Register of Members’ or Lords’ Interests. Gifts or hospitality given to ministers in their capacity as constituency MPs or members of a political party fall within the rules relating to the Registers of Members’ and Lords’ Interests. Generally, a gift or hospitality should only be declared once, on the relevant register, and not in both.

Preparing data

9. The Cabinet Office issues a template to accompany this guidance and which should be used by departments to declare gifts (given or received) and hospitality (received) by each minister.  Departments should produce returns in a way that is mindful of the end user - ensuring data is meaningful, accurate and clear.

10. Details of what should/should not be declared, the data required and formatting is contained in: 

• Annex A: Ministers’ gifts (given and received) 
• Annex B: Ministers’ hospitality (received).

11. Best practice is for ministerial offices to collate ministers’ data in real-time. 

12. Departments should make sure that all returns for the previous month have been made in full and have been sent to the Cabinet Office for feedback in line with the timelines given.

13. Following feedback from the Cabinet Office, final returns must be cleared by the minister or senior private secretary and returned to the Cabinet Office for publication by the date specified.

Publication 

14. The Cabinet Office is responsible for publishing the monthly Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality on GOV.UK.

Contacts

15. Departments should contact the Cabinet Office Transparency Data Team with any queries on this guidance or the completion of ministerial transparency returns. Questions relating to the principles of accepting gifts and hospitality should be directed to the department’s permanent secretary, who may also consult the Cabinet Office.

Annex A: Ministers’ gifts (given and received) 

The principles on giving and receiving gifts are set out in Chapter 3 of the Ministerial Code. 

Departments should include: 

1. Details of gifts given and received in a ministerial capacity valued in excess of £140. Where a family member receives a gift valued in excess of £140 whilst accompanying a minister on an official visit, this should also be declared. 

2. Where there are sensitivities around disclosing the value of a gift, in excess of the £140 threshold, please use the term “Above limit”. This exemption would not normally apply to gifts that are commercially available, or gifts purchased by the minister in line with the principles set out in the Ministerial Code.

3. Where a minister receives a selection of gifts from an individual or organisation and the total value exceeds £140, departments should combine and publish these as one entry. Here a collective description should be provided. 

4. Where a minister receives a gift from an individual on behalf of an organisation, the organisation’s name rather than the individual’s name should normally be declared. 

5. Where a gift is given by a representative of an overseas government, their title and the country they represent should be included.

6. Where gifts are given by newspaper and other media proprietors, editors or senior executives^{[footnote 1]}, departments should record the name of the individual, their role, and the media organisation. Where gifts are given by individuals from media organisations below this level, departments should record the name of the organisation only. 

7. For gifts received, departments need to confirm the ‘outcome’ in respect of each gift. This will identify whether a gift has been: 

a. ‘Purchased by the minister’: where the minister has purchased a gift.

b. ‘Held by department’: please select this outcome where a gift has been retained by the department. Departments may choose to leave the description as ‘held by department’, or specify where appropriate whether a gift has been:

i. ‘Used for hospitality’: this outcome may apply for example when a gift includes perishable goods or beverages.

ii. ‘Donated to charity’: where a gift has been deemed appropriate for re-gifting to a nominated charity this outcome should be selected. 

8. If the status of a gift changes at a later date, i.e., if a minister decided to purchase a gift that was initially held by the department, the Cabinet Office should be provided with an updated return at the earliest opportunity, ensuring any changes in the value of the gift are also reflected. The Cabinet Office will then issue an update to the original publication.

Departments should not include: 

9. Gifts valued at £140 or below. 

10. Invitations to hospitality such as tickets to sporting, theatre or other events and travel upgrades should be considered under the guidance for hospitality. 

11. Gifts given or received by ministers in their capacity as constituency MPs or members of a political party.

12. Gifts that were refused.

13. Personal gifts, i.e. gifts given and received outside of a minister’s capacity as a representative of HM Government.

How to complete the return: GIFTS

• Ensure all ministers are declared on a consolidated departmental ministers’ gifts return, including ministers who did not receive any gifts for the period (Nil Return). 
• Where a Nil Return applies to one or more ministers, ensure that all subsequent columns are populated with the term Nil Return.
• Where a Return Pending applies to one or more ministers, ensure that all subsequent columns are populated with the term Return Pending
• Please do not use soft returns, i.e., enter data in each cell separating text using full stops, semicolons, backslashes or commas only. 

Departments may wish to consult the current GDS style guide for help with style, spelling and grammar conventions.

Department

Provide the name of the department

Minister

List the minister’s full name for each entry/row using the format, [Forename][Surname]

Date

1. Report the date the gift was received or given, using hyphens in the format: YYYY-MM-DD i.e., 2025-01-23. This ensures the date is displayed correctly and avoids errors caused by differences between common British and International date formats. 
2. Ensure dates correspond to the given reporting period. 
3. Where the minister did not receive or give any gifts, please report Nil Return.

Gift

1. Describe the gift in general terms e.g., selection of books. 
2. Where the minister did not receive or give any gifts, please report Nil Return.

Given or Received

1. Select ‘Given’ or ‘Received’ as applicable from the drop-down menu. 
2. Where the minister did not receive or give any gifts, please report Nil Return.

Who gift was given to or received from

1. Only include the names of individual(s) or organisation(s) in this column. Names of individuals should only be reported where the individuals are representing their own interests, with the exception of senior media figures^{[footnote 2]}. 
2. For senior media figures, record the name of the individual, their role, and the media organisation. For individuals operating below this level, departments should record the name of the organisation only. 
3. Do not include contextual information such as ‘gift given by’ etc.
4. Report organisation names in full, spelling out any acronyms for greater accessibility, except where these are in common use e.g., BBC
5. If a gift is given to, or received from more than one organisation or individual, please name each in turn. 
6. Honorifics may be used here. 
7. Where the minister did not receive or give any gifts, please report Nil Return.

Value (£)

1. Report all gifts valued above £140 only, ensuring all values are reported in GBP. 
2. Where the value of the gift is not known or deemed sensitive to disclose, report: ‘Above Limit’. 
3. Where the minister did not receive or give any gifts, please report Nil Return.

Outcome (Received gifts only)

1. Select the applicable outcome: 

a. Purchased by the minister

b. Held by department 

i. Used for hospitality (optional)

ii. Donated to charity (optional) 

2. Where a gift was given rather than received, please report N/A. 

3. Where a minister did not receive or give any gifts, please report Nil Return.

Example of data: GIFTS GIVEN AND RECEIVED OVER £140

Department	Title	Minister	Date	Gift	Given or Received	Who gift was given to or received from	Value (£)	Outcome (Received gifts only)
Department for X	Secretary of State	[Name]	2025-01-14	Pen	Received	Company Y	£380	Purchased by Minister
Department for X	Minister of State	[Name]	2025-01-07	Christmas Hamper	Received	Lord X	£165	Used for Hospitality
Department for X	Minister of State	[Name]	2025-01-02	Painting	Received	Prince X of Y	Above Limit	Held by Department
Department for X	Minister of State	[Name]	2025-01-03	Selection of Books	Given	Ambassador of country Y	Above Limit	N/A
Department for X	Minister of State	[Name]	2025-01-05	Pair of Cufflinks	Received	Lady Z	£310	Purchased by Minister
Department for X	Parliamentary Secretary	[Name]	2025-01-19	Nil Return	Nil Return	Nil Return	Nil Return	Nil Return

Annex B: Ministers’ hospitality (received)

The principles on ministerial hospitality are set out in Chapter 3 of the Ministerial Code.

Departments should include:

1. Details of all hospitality received by ministers in a ministerial capacity above de minimis levels, for example receptions, meals, travel upgrades, tickets for sporting events and concerts etc., including attendance at non-ticketed events, except where set out below. 
2. The name of the organisation or individual who provided hospitality. Where hospitality is provided by newspaper and other media proprietors, editors or senior executives^{[footnote 3]}, departments should record the name of the individual, their role, and the media organisation. Where hospitality is provided by representatives of media organisations below this level, departments should only record the name of the organisation. 
3. For hospitality received, departments need to confirm whether the minister was accompanied by a guest. In instances where the minister’s guest received a personal invitation, it is nonetheless recommended departments declare the attendance of the plus one. 
4. The total value in GBP of the hospitality received, including the value of the attendance of  guests (see exemptions below). Where the value is not available, departments should make best efforts to ascertain an estimate. In instances where it is not possible to provide an estimate, departments should declare ‘Value Unknown’.
5. There will be instances where hospitality above de minimis levels^{[footnote 4]} is provided as part of a meeting, in which case, a corresponding entry should be declared for both the meeting - through the quarterly return on ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals - and the hospitality. 
6. Where a government department has distributed hospitality on behalf of an external organisation or individual among other departments, the external organisation or individual should be named, and the hospitality declared in the usual way. 

Departments should not include: 

7. Hospitality received from devolved or foreign governments, HM Government bodies, including other government departments, non-departmental public bodies, non-ministerial departments, members of the Royal Household, executive agencies, government reviews and government advisory groups or representatives of Parliament. 

a. If, in the course of any exempted hospitality, a minister entered into substantive discussions with a senior media figure, this should be considered under the guidance for meetings. 

8. Hospitality from government non-executive directors, unless in the capacity of other non-government roles the non-executive director may hold. 

9. Hospitality received by ministers in their capacity as an MP or Peer in a constituency or party-political capacity. 

10. Offers of hospitality which were declined. 

11. Hospitality below de minimis levels. This will usually apply to minor refreshments at meetings, receptions, conferences, and seminars e.g., tea, coffee, sandwich lunches etc.

12. Hospitality received from another minister, MP or Peer unless the minister, MP, or Peer was acting in an external capacity. 

13. The names of any accompanying guests. 

14. If the minister is accompanied by special advisers or civil servants the hospitality received should not be included in the minister’s return but should be recorded in line with the respective rules for special advisers and civil servants.

How to complete the return: HOSPITALITY

• Ensure all ministers are declared on a consolidated departmental ministers’ hospitality return, including ministers who did not receive any hospitality for the period (Nil Return). 
• Where a Nil Return applies to one or more ministers, ensure that all subsequent columns are populated with the term Nil Return. 
• Where a Return Pending applies to one or more ministers, ensure that all subsequent columns are populated with the term Return Pending.
• Where a minister has multiple hospitality entries to declare, these should be listed chronologically. 
• Please do not use soft returns i.e., enter data in each cell, separating text using full stops, semicolons, backslashes or commas only. 

Departments may wish to consult the current GDS style guide, for help with style, spelling and grammar conventions.

Department

Provide the name of the department

Title

Provide the minister’s title as it appears on GOV.UK (Ministers)

Minister

List the minister’s full name using the format, [Forename][Surname]

Date

1. Report the date the hospitality took place using hyphens in the format: YYYY-MM-DD i.e., 2025-01-23. This ensures the date is displayed correctly and avoids errors caused by differences between common British and international date formats. 
2. Ensure dates correspond to the given reporting period. 
3. Where the minister did not receive any hospitality, please report Nil Return.

Individual or Organisation that offered hospitality

1. Include names of individual(s) or organisation(s) in this column. Names of individuals should only be reported where the individuals are representing their own interests, with the exception of Senior Media Figures^{[footnote 5]}. 
2. For senior media figures, record the name of the individual, their role, and the media organisation. For individuals from media organisations below this level, departments should record the name of the organisation only.  Do not include contextual information such as ‘drinks reception with’ etc. 
3. Report organisation names in full, spelling out any acronyms for greater accessibility, except where these are in common use, e.g., BBC. 
4. Honorifics may be used here. 
5. Where the minister did not receive any hospitality, please report Nil Return.

Type of Hospitality Received

1. Report the nature of the hospitality received e.g., ‘Lunch’, ‘Drinks reception’, ‘Flight upgrade’, ‘Tickets to screening’. 
2. Where the minister did not receive any hospitality report Nil Return.

Accompanied by Guest

1. Specify whether the minister was accompanied to the hospitality event by selecting ‘Yes’/ ‘No’ as applicable from the drop-down menu in the template: 
2. Do not name the accompanying guest. 
3. In instances where the minister’s guest had received a personal invitation to the event, it is recommended departments declare the attendance of the plus one.
4. Where no hospitality was attributed to the minister during the reporting period, please report Nil Return.
5. If the minister is accompanied by special advisers or civil servants the hospitality received should not be included in the minister’s return but should be recorded in line with the respective rules for special advisers and civil servants.

Value (£)

1. Provide the total value in GBP of the hospitality received, noting the attendance of any guests included on the return. 
2. Where exact costs are unavailable it is reasonable to declare an estimated value. 
3. Where it has not been possible to ascertain an estimate, please declare Value Unknown.

Example of data: HOSPITALITY RECEIVED

Department	Title	Minister	Date	Individual or Organisation that  offered hospitality	Type of Hospitality Received	Accompanied  by Guest	Value of Hospitality (£)
Department of X	Secretary of State	[Name]	2025-01-16	W University	Dinner	Yes	£170
Department of X	Minister of State	[Name]	2025-01-06	Lord Y	Drinks Reception	No	£60
Department of X	Minister of State	[Name]	Nil Return	Nil Return	Nil Return	Nil Return	Nil Return
Department of X	ParliamentarySecretary	[Name]	2025-01-03	Company Name	Box Tickets to FA Cup Final	Yes	£5600

Annex C: Senior media figures including Media proprietors, Editors and Senior Executives

Category	Proprietors	Editors	Senior Executives
Newspapers (including regional publications and online editions)	Chair/ Owner	The Editor, all Senior Editorial Staff including Political, Business, Economic Editors and Deputy Editors.	CEOs
Broadcasters (including regional broadcasters)	Chair/ Owner	All Senior Editorial Staff including Political, Business, Economic and Deputy Editors, Channel Controllers, Directors of Programming and Radio Controllers	Directors General CEOs

1. See Annex C for table of Media Proprietors, Editors and Senior Executives. ↩

2. See Annex C for table of Media Proprietors, Editors and Senior Executives. ↩

3. See Annex C for table of Media Proprietors, Editors and Senior Executives ↩

4. Hospitality under de minimis levels includes minor refreshments e.g., tea, coffee, sandwich lunches etc. ↩

5. See Annex C for table of Media Proprietors, Editors and Senior Executives ↩