Declarations of interest: definitions and policies for handling of interests at meetings
Document Type
Corporate documents
Summary
We are to open declaration of competing interests in all our activities. All persons involved in the production of Evidence Directorate work must declare all relevant interests. This includes in our:
- outputs
- advice
- recommendations
An interest that should be declared is any that may be perceived to potentially influence the content of the work programme. Many members of, or invited advisors to, committees or groups will by definition have potential conflicts of interest. This is due to their expertise in the topic being considered. We aim to provide reassurance that outputs from the Evidence Directorate are impartial. It is important that all interests are declared. Potential conflicts are handled consistently. Any interest which may be regarded as influencing the impartiality of the participant should be declared. If there is any doubt about a declaration, seek advice from the relevant unit or team in the Evidence Directorate.
The following documents outline and inform our policies for the handling of interests at meetings.