Blunkett's DNA firm assisted by his department's staff

According to the Sunday Times, evidence has been found which suggests that civil servants at David Blunkett’s former department intervened on behalf of a company in which he had a shareholding. The controversy over Blunkett’s stake in the firm, DNA Bioscience, ended his cabinet career last year. He resigned when it emerged he had failed to declare the company had made him a director, breaching the ministerial code.

The Sunday Times claims that e-mails released last week under the Freedom of Information Act show officials working under Blunkett at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) helped to ensure that the firm was given court work to carry out paternity tests. This followed lobbying from the company’s executives.

A DWP spokeswoman said officials had made inquiries but had not acted improperly.

Blunkett DNA firm given help by his department’s staff (Sunday Times, 5 February 2006)

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