The Government has today published a Command Paper on the proposed Public Service (Standards and Conflict of Interests) Bill. The Bill seeks to implement recommendations one and two from Sir Peter Openshaw’s McGrail Inquiry report. It has been drafted in a private capacity by Daniel Greenberg CB (former UK Parliamentary Counsel, presently serving as Commissioner for Standards in the House of Commons).

An earlier draft of the Bill was first discussed with a wide cross-section of public officials, statutory bodies, law enforcement agencies and representatives of the business community in a series of meetings in early February.  The consultation included a meeting with the Opposition.  The original Bill has already been amended following feedback received at those meetings, as well as written submissions received since. The Government now extends this consultation to the wider public by publishing the Bill as a Command Paper.

An extensive explanatory memorandum is included at the end of the Bill, explaining all relevant clauses in detail.

In response to key feedback received, express provision has been made enabling the Chief Minister to exclude from the operation of the Act public bodies (such as regulators) in respect of which the Government is satisfied that they already operate arrangements to address the conflict of interests and standards in public life issues and the matters specifically dealt with by the Act, in a manner and to an extent that is appropriate having regard to the functions of the body and all other circumstances.    Powers are also provided enabling exemptions of specified classes of public official from requirements to register and declare interests (which could include, for example, provision exempting volunteer members of statutory authorities or boards). 

The Command Paper can be found at www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/command-papers. Responses to the Command Paper must be submitted to command.papers@gibraltar.gov.gi or delivered in writing to:

Command Papers Consultation C01/2026

c/o Michael Podesta

Crown Counsel

Office of Parliamentary Counsel

Government Law Offices

HM Government of Gibraltar

40 Town Range

Gibraltar

The deadline for public consultation is 10^th April 2026. The Government is committed to publishing the final Bill by 17^th April 2026, within the 100 days set out by the Chief Minister in his address of 7^th January 2026.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: “I am very grateful to Daniel Greenberg CB for having worked with Michael Podesta of the Government Law Offices to produce this complex Bill in a short time.  The Canadian model proposed initially is not workable for Gibraltar.   This is therefore a bespoke model for our circumstances which may become THE standard going forward.  I am also very grateful for those that have already provided feedback and who have taken to time to consider the first draft of the Bill.  I look forward to feedback from the wider public consultation which the Command Paper procedure, which we introduced after 2011, will now produce.”