Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Lord Willetts

Updated 20 June 2016

Lord Willetts left his role as Minister for Universities and Science in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in July 2014.

1. Non Executive Director, Biotech Growth Trust

Lord Willetts sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid, appointment with Biotech Growth Trust, a venture capital fund investing in life science businesses.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that, as Minister for Science, part of Lord Willetts’s responsibilities would have included life sciences, which is the area that Biotech invests in. However, they also noted that Lord Willetts had no official dealings with Biotech during his last two years in office, that there is no relationship between his former department and Biotech, and that a gap of over a year had already occurred since he left ministerial office.

The Committee also noted that BIS saw no propriety concerns with this appointment.

The Committee advised Lord Willetts that it could see no reason why he should not take up this appointment, 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 from his time as a Minister; and
• for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Biotech Growth Trust PLC, OrbiMed Capital LLC, their subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Willetts in October 2015 and the appointment was taken up in November 2015.

2. Honorary President, International Student Foundation

Lord Willetts sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an unpaid, part-time appointment as Honorary President of the International Student Foundation (ISF), advising and encouraging students in China to come to the UK, and helping to promote schemes for British students going abroad.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Lord Willetts had no dealings with ISF while in ministerial office, although there is a link between their work and his former responsibilities. However, the Committee noted that Lord Willetts left ministerial office nearly 18 months ago, and that the new position is unpaid. They further noted that Lord Willetts’s former department had no concerns regarding the propriety of the appointment.

The Committee advised Lord Willetts that it saw no reason why he should not take up this position, subject to the following conditions:

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

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Willetts in December 2015 and he took up the role in January 2016.

3. Independent Trustee Director, Francis Crick Institute

Lord Willetts sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an unpaid, part-time appointment as an Independent Trustee Director with the Francis Crick Institute.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that he had direct dealings with the FCI in his time as a Minister and that the Institute did, and indeed still does, have a relationship with BIS. However, they also noted that he left his role as a Minister over a year ago, his dealings with FCI were some time before that, and that this position will be unpaid. His former department had no propriety concerns with this appointment.

The Committee advised Lord Willetts that it saw no reason why he should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him in his time as a Minister; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Francis Crick Institute, its consortium members, or any of its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Willetts in October 2015, and he took up the appointment in December 2015.

4. Non-Executive Board Member, National Council for Universities and Business (NCUB)

Mr Willetts sought advice about accepting a part time position as a Non-Executive Board Member for NCUB.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that NCUB is affected by Government policy and is asked for advice by Government on promoting university/ business links. They also noted the views of his former department.

Taking into account all of the circumstances, the Committee saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, their parent company or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in June 2015 and he took up the role that month.

5. Board Member, Biotech Industry Association (BIA)

Mr Willetts sought the Committee’s advice on an appointment as a board member of the Biotech Industry Association.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that Mr Willetts had some contact with BIA while in office, due to his former responsibilities as a minister. They also took into account that there is an ongoing non-contractual relationship between BIA and BIS on life sciences policy. They also noted that, although BIA lobbies Government, Mr Willetts has made it clear that he will not be taking part in this.

Taking into account all the circumstances, the Committee was content to approve the appointment subject to the following conditions:

• that he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, their parent company or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in March 2015 and he took up the role in May 2015.

6. Executive Chairman, Resolution Foundation

Mr Wiletts sought advice on accepting a role as Executive Chairman of the Resolution Foundation.

The Committee took into account that Mr Willetts had previously sat on the Resolution Foundation’s advisory board, but that he did not have any official dealings with them in his capacity as a BIS Minister.

Taking into account all the circumstances, the Committee was content to approve the appointment subject to the following conditions:

• that he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, their parent company or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in March 2015 and he took up the new role in September 2015.

7. Chair, British Science Association

Mr Willetts sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a role as Chair of the British Science Association (BSA).

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that his former department, BIS, provides funding to BSA, and that Mr Willetts had official dealings with them while in office. However, they also took into account the views of his former department about this appointment, and the fact that Mr Willetts had made it clear to BSA that he will not be conducting any lobbying of the Government on their behalf.

Taking into account all the circumstances, the Committee was content to approve the appointment subject to the following conditions:

• that he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, their parent company or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in March 2015 and he took up the new role in September 2015.

8. Senior Non-Executive Director, Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd (SSTL)

Mr Willetts sought advice about accepting a part-time, paid role with SSTL as a Senior Non-Executive Director.

When considering this application, the Committee noted that Mr Willetts did have official dealings with SSTL during his last two years in office in his capacity as Minister for Space, as they received funding from BIS via the UK Space Agency for satellite development. They also participate in an EU programme for Earth observation satellites and Galileo. The Committee further took into account that there is a relationship between SSTL and BIS as they sit on the Space Leadership Council, which he used to chair. The Committee also took into account that he did not have official dealings with potential competitors of SSTL.

Taking into account all the circumstances, the Committee was content to approve the appointment subject to the following conditions:

• that he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, their parent company or clients. This lobbying ban covers SSTL but it does not preclude contact with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) on operational trade missions overseas in relation to the SSTL appointment;
• there should be a waiting period of 12 months from his last day in Ministerial office in relation to the SSTL appointment and the appointment may not be taken up until 1 August 2015.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in June 2015 and the appointment was taken up in September 2015.

9. Education Investment Adviser, Silvertown Partnership

Mr Willetts sought advice on accepting a role as an Education Investment Adviser for the Silvertown Partnership, an organisation specialising in the regeneration of towns.

The Committee noted that Mr Willetts’s role would involve identifying and approaching universities that were interested in setting up a site for a major redevelopment plan in the Docklands. His role would be as an advisor on the overall competition and would not involve making decisions on specific universities.

The Committee advised Mr Willetts that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, its parent company or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in October 2014 and he took up the role in November 2014.

10. Member of Higher Education Strategic Management Board, TES

Mr Willetts sought advice on accepting a role as member of the Higher Education Strategic Management Board, TES, in order to provide advice on expanding TES’s assessments and global rankings of universities and have a presence at meetings abroad where the rankings are discussed. His role would not involve decisions on the rankings of individual universities.

The Committee noted that Mr Willetts had had some contact with TES while in ministerial office, as he had dealt with their journalists. However, he had no involvement in their international activities or corporate strategy.

The Committee advised Mr Willetts that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, its parent company or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in October 2014 and he took up the role later that month.

11. Visiting Professor, King’s College London

Mr Willetts sought advice about accepting a role as a visiting professor at King’s College London (KCL), working with academics across the college and the Public Policy Institute.

The Committee noted that KCL receives indirect funding from BIS via the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Research Councils, and that BIS engages with educational institutions on an arms-length basis, but that you did not determine specific institutional allocations.

The Committee saw no reason why he could not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on 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 UK Government on behalf of his new employer, its parent company or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Willetts in October 2014 and he took up the role later that month.