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Propriety and Ethics

The Propriety and Ethics Team advises the Head of the Home Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, ministers and government departments on:

• issues under the Ministerial Code
• Civil Service Ethics and Standards (the Civil Service Code)
• the role of Special Advisers (and issues under the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers)
• corporate governance in public bodies and making and managing public appointments

The Cabinet Office also acts as the main liaison point between Government and:

• the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (otherwise known as the 'Parliamentary Ombudsman')
• the Committee on Standards in Public Life

The Cabinet office also produces guidance on:

• handling of correspondence from Members of Parliament and Peers
• guidance to officials on drafting answers to parliamentary questions

For a full list of the guidance produced by the team see the publications page.