Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Leighton Andrews

Updated 20 February 2018

Leighton Andrews AM left his role as Minister for Public Services, Welsh Government, in May 2016.

1. Chair, Cardiff City FC Foundation

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on becoming the Chair of Cardiff City FC Foundation.

He informed the Committee that his role would include chairing the Foundation, marketing and ensuring corporate governance.

The Committee noted it had previously provided advice on Mr Andrews’ role as a trustee of the Foundation and concluded the change in role to Chair does not give rise to any propriety concerns. There is no basis for viewing this appointment as a reward for decisions made in office, as it is an unpaid position and he had no contact with the Foundation while he was a Minister.

It considered the risk that Mr Andrew could afford the Foundation an unfair advantage is small. While he may host Ministers and other Government officials, this would be in the normal course of the charity’s business and the conditions set out below will preclude him from lobbying the Welsh Government on the Foundation’s behalf.

Taking into account these factors, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the Committee advised the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• that he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister; and
• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of Cardiff City FC Foundation or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure funding on its behalf.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in December 2017 and the appointment was announced in January 2018.

2. Editorial Board Member, Journal of Public Affairs

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on accepting an appointment with the Journal of Public Affairs as an editorial board member.

The Committee noted that this is a part-time, unpaid role, reviewing submitted articles.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that Mr Andrews was previously an editorial board member before taking up office in the Welsh Government and that the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Government has no concerns about this appointment.

The Committee advised Mr Andrews that this appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in ministerial office; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of The Journal of Public Affairs.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in November 2016 and the appointment commenced later that month.

3. Member of the Advisory Board, Learning Possibilities

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on taking up an appointment as a member of Learning Possibilities’ Advisory Board.

The Committee noted that as part-time, paid, member of the board, Mr Andrews role would be to advise on maximising the organisation’s impact in Wales and expanding the provision of learning platforms in England and globally.

The Committee took into account that the role may involve contact with the Welsh Government, as Learning Possibilities is a supplier to the Government. However, the role would focus on business strategy and would not involve lobbying Government. The Committee also considered that during his last two years in office, Mr Andrews had no official dealings with Learning Possibilities, nor with any of their competitors.

The Committee advised Mr Andrews that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister; and
• for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of Learning Possibilities.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in October 2016 and he took up the appointment in November 2016.

4. Chair, Digital Taskforce, National Assembly for Wales

Mr Andrews sought advice on taking up an appointment as Chair of the National Assembly for Wales’ (NAFW) Digital Task Force.

The Committee noted t​his is a part-time, unpaid appointment of around 12 days work per year. As Chair he will provide recommendations on the most effective ways in which NAFW can deliver engaging and accessible news and information about its work; aiming to increase levels of public understanding and engagement, specifically with audiences currently disengaged with politics and Welsh affairs.

The Committee took into account that whilst Mr Andrews had some official dealings with his prospective employer, as a Minister accountable to the National Assembly - this appointment is unlikely to include any contact or dealings with his former department, or Government in general.

The Committee also noted that Mr Andrews’ former department had no concerns about him taking up this role.

The Committee advised Mr Andrews that, in accordance with the Government’s Business appointment Rules, the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister; and
• for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in June 2016 and he took up the appointment in November 2016.

5. Professor of Public Service Leadership, Cardiff University

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on taking up an appointment as Professor of Practice in Public Service Leadership at Cardiff University.

The Committee noted that Mr Andrews had some dealings with Cardiff University while a Minister, particularly during his time as Minister for Education and Skills from 2011 until 2013. However, they noted that he left that role in 2013 and since then served as a backbench Assembly Member and Minister for Public Service. The Welsh Government confirmed that he was not involved in any decisions that should preclude him from taking up this appointment.

Taking into account all the circumstances, the Committee advised Mr Andrews that it saw no reason why he should not take up this role, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of Cardiff University, its students, staff or alumni. Nor should he make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure business or funding on behalf of Cardiff University.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in August 2016 and the appointment was announced later that month.

6. Trustee, Cardiff City FC Foundation

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on taking up an appointment as an Honorary Trustee of Cardiff City FC Foundation.

When considering this application, the Committee noted that Mr Andrews had no dealings with Cardiff City FC during his last two years in ministerial office and that the role would involve no contact with the Welsh Government.

The Committee advised Mr Andrews that there was no reason why he should not take up this role, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of Cardiff City FC or its Foundation

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in June 2016 and the appointment was taken up in August 2016.

7. External Adviser to the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on accepting a new appointment as an External Adviser to the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (the RSA).

The Committee noted that this role would involve advising the Public Services and Communities Change Aim Panel. It also took into consideration that Mr Andrews met the CEO of the RSA on one or two occasions while in office, and that the CEO spoke at the Welsh Government Public Service Leadership Summit. Mr Andrews also confirmed that he had met with several other think tanks in similar fields while in office, but did not have access to any commercially sensitive information about them and was not involved in any policy decisions of relevance. The Committee took into account that the Welsh Government confirmed Mr Andrews had very limited interaction with the organisation or its competitors and had no concerns about him taking up this appointment.

The Committee advised that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the role be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister; and
• for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of the RSA.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in August 2016.

8. Director, Cwmni Digidol

Mr Andrews sought the Committee’s advice on taking up an appointment as a Director of Cwmni Digidol, a start-up company developing a Welsh Language app for smartphones, which he formed in early 2014.

The Committee noted that Mr Andrews previously sought its advice about establishing Cwmni Digidol in early 2014, and was a director of the company until he relinquished the post on rejoining the Welsh Government later that year.

The Committee noted that Mr Andrews had no dealings with Cwmni Digidol during his last two years in office and that the appointment will not involve any contact with the Welsh Government.

The Committee advised Mr Andrews that it could see no reason why he should not take up this post, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him as a Minister;
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of Cwmni Digidol, its partners or clients; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, Cwmni Digidol should not receive or seek investment or a contractual relationship with any organisation or person with whom the Education and Public Services Group entered into any contractual relationship during his term in office.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Andrews in June 2016 and he took up the appointment in July 2016.