Matt Hancock is being probed by the Commons sleaze watchdog

Matt Hancock is being probed by the Commons sleaze watchdog over links to family firm run by his sister and her husband that won NHS contracts

• Matt Hancock declared he owns more than 15% of shares in Topwood Ltd
• Document shredding company allowed to provide services to NHS since 2019 
• Last month Mr Hancock was found to have broken the ministerial code
• Did not declare his interest when Topwood was awarded contract by the NHS 
• He was referred to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone

Matt Hancock is being investigated by the Commons sleaze watchdog over his links to a family firm that has won NHS contracts.

The Health Secretary declared in April this year that he owns more than 15 per cent of shares in Topwood Ltd, run by his sister and her husband.

But the document shredding company has been allowed to provide services to the NHS since 2019 and has won a contract in Wales.

Last month Mr Hancock was found to have broken the ministerial code by not declaring his interest two years ago when Wrexham-based Topwood was first awarded a framework contract by NHS Shared Business Services.

Matt Hancock is being investigated by the Commons sleaze watchdog over his links to a family firm that has won NHS contracts

He was said to have committed a ‘minor breach’ of the rules by ministerial ethics adviser Lord Geidt, on the grounds that he had not known about the NHS deal.

However Mr Hancock was also referred to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone.

And her list of current investigations was updated this week to include Mr Hancock’s case.

Her website stated that the ‘matter under investigation’ was ‘Registration of interest under Category 7 of the Guide to the Rules [Shareholdings]’.

The Health Secretary declared in April this year that he owns more than 15 per cent of shares in Topwood Ltd, run by his sister and her husband

The relevant part of the MPs’ code of conduct was the paragraph that states: ‘Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.’

Sanctions for breaches of the code range from having to make an apology to being suspended from the Commons for a number of weeks in the most serious cases.

Last night Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner told the Mail: ‘Matt Hancock is taking the public for fools by claiming that he didn’t even know what his sister’s company – which he owns a 20 per cent stake of – does.

Last night Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner (pictured) told the Mail: ‘Matt Hancock is taking the public for fools by claiming that he didn’t even know what his sister’s company – which he owns a 20 per cent stake of – does’

‘It is right that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards investigates this flagrant and glaring breach of the rules.

‘The Health Secretary is treating the rules that uphold standards and integrity in our democracy with complete contempt.’

It is the latest blow to the reputation of Mr Hancock, who was called ‘poor man’ by the Queen in her recent meeting with Boris Johnson.

The document shredding company has been allowed to provide services to the NHS since 2019 and has won a contract in Wales (file image) 

Leaked messages revealed last week that the Prime Minister called him ‘hopeless’ at the height of the pandemic last year.

Former No 10 aide Dominic Cummings has said the Health Secretary should have been fired for ‘at least 15 to 20 things’ over his handling of the Covid crisis.

Last night sources close to the Health Secretary said: ‘His team will work with the commissioner on this technical issue – all processes have been followed properly and diligently.’

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