ROYALAIRFORCEMUSEUM
ROYAL AIR MUSEUM ENTERPRISES LTD
GIFT REWARDS & HOSPITALITY
1.Introduction
1.1From time to time the staff of the Royal Air Force Museum and Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Ltd (“Museum”) are offered gifts, rewards or hospitality in cash or in kind because of their role or position within the Museum. It is of overriding importance that Museum staff should not be placed in a position where their actions might give the impressionto anyone inside or outside the Museum that they have been, or might be, influenced to show favour or disfavour to any person or organisation by receiving any, present, gift, reward, hospitality, loan or other consideration (“gift or hospitality”).
1.2 The acceptance of any gift or hospitality will normally be considered an exception.
If there is doubt about the propriety of acceptance then the offer should be refused.
2.Definition
2.1‘Gift or Hospitality’ means the offering, supply, provision or granting to a member of staff of the RAFM and RAFME Ltd by a person, persons, organisation or corporate body of any items, whether as gifts, presents, rewards, or hospitality in cash and or kind.
2.2Other favours or considerations may be offered by a company or organisation which are not clearly a gift or hospitality e.g. special discounts or privileges not available to others. Any such offer involving the purchase of goods or services through a contractor, consultant or supplier using their trade discount or from outlets not open to the general public, must be declined.
2.3Where a relative or friend of the member of staff is offered a gift or hospitality because of a relationship with a member of Museum staff, the same restriction applies.
2.4 Seasonal gifts such as diaries or calendars under £5.00 (five pounds) value areexcluded from this this definition. However food, beverage and meals over £5.00 (five pounds) are included
within the definition, even when supplied on the Museum site.
3.Hospitality Books
3.1Hospitality Books are kept at Hendon (Director Generals Office) and at Cosford and Stafford (General Managers Office). All offers of gifts and or hospitality, whether accepted or declined, are to be recorded in the book. The responsibility for making the entry rests with the person to whom the offer is originally made. Each book will be checked monthly by the Director Operations Division, or another Divisional Director.
3.2In every case where the member of staff believes that refusal of the gift or hospitality could give offence guidance will be sought from the appropriate Director, who will use the criteria in the current editionof the Defence Council Instructions (General). That decision will be recorded in the Hospitality Book.
3.3Presentations to the Museum, or to any member of the Museum staff in form of a memento following a visit will, for simplicity, also be recorded in the local Hospitality Book. Should such an item come within the collection policies of the Museum it should be treatedin accordance with the Acquisition Policy.
3.4In any case of doubt the offer of a gift or hospitality is to be entered into the Hospitality Book and advice taken from a member of the Senior Management Team.
John Kitchen
Director Operations Division
December 2003
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Revised December 2003