Summary of business appointments applications - Baroness Warsi
Updated 19 July 2017
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Baroness Warsi left her role as Senior Minister of State at the FCO, and Minister for Faith and Communities, DCLG in August 2014.
1. Pro Vice Chancellor, Bolton University
Baroness Warsi sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a paid, part-time appointment as Pro Vice Chancellor for the University of Bolton.
When considering this application, the Committee took into account that she had no interaction with the University or its competitors in her time as a Minister. They also noted that her former departments had no propriety concerns with this appointment.
The Committee advised Baroness Warsi that it saw no reason why she should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:
- She should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her as a Minister; and
- For two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the University of Bolton, its students, staff or alumni.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Baroness Warsi in November 2015, and she took up the appointment in January 2016.
2. Speaker, Specialist Speakers
Baroness Warsi sought advice about joining Specialist Speakers, a speaking agency.
When considering this application the Committee noted that Baroness Warsi did not have any official dealings with Specialist Speakers while in ministerial office, and is unaware of any relationship between the organisation and her former departments.
The Committee advised Baroness Warsi that it saw no reason why she should not accept this appointment, subject to the following conditions:
- she should not draw on any privileged information available to her from her time in Government; and
- for two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not become personally involve in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Specialist Speakers or its clients.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Baroness Warsi in May 2015.
3. Adviser, Rupert’s Recipes Ltd
Baroness Warsi sought advice about taking up a role as an adviser for Rupert’s Recipes Ltd, a family business in which she is a majority shareholder.
The Committee took into account that Baroness Warsi had no official dealings with Rupert’s Recipes whilst in ministerial office.
The Committee advised Baroness Warsi that it saw no reason why she should not take up this appointment subject to the following conditions:
- she should not draw on privileged information available to her from her time in Government; and
- for two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Rupert’s Recipes Ltd, its suppliers or customers.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Baroness Warsi in May 2015.
4. Adviser, Shire Bed Company
Baroness Warsi sought advice on taking up a role as adviser for the Shire Bed Company, a family business she was a shareholder of.
The Committee noted that Baroness Warsi would be returning to a role she held before entering government, and that she had had no official dealings with the company while a minister.
The Committee advised Baroness Warsi that it could see no reason why she should not take up the appointment, subject to the following conditions:
-
she should not draw on privileged information available to her from her time in Government; and
-
for two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Shire Bed Company or its clients.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Baroness Warsi in November 2014 and she took up the role in March 2015.
5. Adviser to M&C Saatchi World Services
Baroness Warsi asked for the Committee’s advice about taking up a paid, part-time appointment as an Adviser to M&C Saatchi World Services.
The Committee took into account Baroness Warsi’s assurance that the new role would not involve any lobbying of Government. Whilst the the Committee noted that both Baroness Warsi’s former departments have a relationship with M&C Saatchi, both departments confirmed she had no involvement with the company while in post, and that they have no concerns about her taking up this appointment. The Committee also took into account that almost 21 months had passed since Baroness Warsi had left office.
The Committee advised that, under the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, this appointment be subject to the following conditions:
- Baroness Warsi should not draw on any privileged information available to her as a Minister;
- for two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not contribute to any projects M&C Saatchi World Services undertakes for either FCO or DCLG; and
- for two years from her last day in ministerial office Baroness Warsi should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government, or use her Whitehall contacts to influence or secure business, on behalf of M&C Saatchi World Services, its parent company, subsidiaries or clients.
The Committee sent its advice letter to Baroness Warsi in April 2016.