UNCERTAINTY has been cast on whether David Cameron and his ministerial colleagues will follow their French counterparts and publish details of their personal finances.
Francois Hollande gave his ministers a deadline of yesterday to reveal details of their personal wealth.
The move is part of the French President's effort to regain public trust following the scandal surrounding former budget minister Jerome Cahuzac, who is under judicial investigation for tax fraud over a secret overseas bank account.
The Prime Minister's spokesman was asked if Mr Cameron was still apparently committed to revealing details of his own finances.
Last April, the PM said he was "very relaxed" about the prospect of releasing his own details and said it looked "increasingly likely" he would do so.
However, when Mr Cameron's spokesman was asked about the PM's intentions, he said he remained "relaxed" about the idea.
Yet in the face of repeated questions at a daily Westminster press briefing, the spokesman declined to say whether Mr Cameron was committed to taking the step within the course of this Parliament.
Asked whether the PM would be following Mr Hollande's example, the spokesman said: "The Prime Minister's view on whether he would be content to publish his arrangements and those of other ministers is that he would be relaxed about that. His view is unchanged. He would be relaxed about doing so."
Later, a Cabinet Office spokeswoman said there was "no update at present" on any work that might be taking place within Government on the process by which details of ministers' financial arrangements could be made public.
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