Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Rt Hon Lord Barker of Battle

Updated 15 February 2016

Rt Hon Lord Barker of Battle left his role as Minister of State in DECC and Minister for Business Engagement with India in July 2014.

1. Chair, Global Sustainability Practice, Gyro Ltd

Lord Barker sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Gyro Ltd, an advertising, communications and creative agency. The Committee noted that this is a paid role, amounting to three days’ work per month.

When considering the application the Committee took into account that Lord Barker has a longstanding connection with Gyro Ltd, having been a small shareholder since 2007. It also took into account Lord Barker’s statement that the role is not likely to require any contact or dealings with his former department or government more generally. It noted that eighteen months had passed since he left his last ministerial position.

The Committee advised Lord Barker that it saw no reason why he should not take up the 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 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 Gyro Ltd, its parent company Pegasus Capital Advisers LP, or their clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Barker in February 2016 and he took up the role later that month.

2. Environmental Defense Fund Ltd, Powerhive Inc and Equinox Energy Capital Ltd

Mr Barker sought the Committee’s advice on appointments as: Director of the European Board of the Environmental Defense Fund Ltd; Senior Adviser to Powerhive Inc; and Senior Adviser to Equinox Energy Capital Ltd.

When considering these applications the Committee noted that Mr Barker had met with the Environmental Defense Fund while in office, as part of wider stakeholder engagement with leading US voices on climate change, but that he was unaware of any other relationship between them and his former departments. The Committee noted that Mr Barker did not have any official dealings with Powerhive or Equinox Energy Capital during his last two years in ministerial office.

The Committee noted that these appointments were related to the area for which Mr Barker previously had ministerial responsibility, and that this may give rise to negative perceptions of these appointments. However, taking into account all the circumstances, the Committee saw no reason why he should not accept the appointments, 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 as a minister from his time in Government; 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 employers, their parent companies, subsidiaries or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Barker in August 2015.

3. Chairman, International Advisory Board – Innasol Group Ltd; and Director, Pont Street Capital

The Rt Hon Gregory Barker asked for the Committee’s advice about taking up two appointments with Innasol Group Ltd and Pont Street Capital, having left Government in July 2014.

3.1 Innasol Group Ltd

When considering this application the Committee took into account the fact that Innasol is a distributer and developer of renewable heat technologies in the UK and Europe. This is a part-time, paid appointment for 1 day per week and Mr Barker will be the Chairman of the International Advisory Board. He will provide strategic advice to the board regarding market opportunities for renewable heat technologies in the UK and abroad and thought leadership in this area.

The Committee noted that Mr Barker stated that he would have encountered Innasol as part of wider stakeholder engagement when he was in office. He would have met a number of companies from this sector in the course of his ministerial duties. He is not aware of any relationship, either contractual or non-contractual between Innasol and his former departments.

3.2 Pont Street Capital

In considering this application, the Committee noted that Mr Barker stated that he will be Director of this personal investment holding company which is a new company formed by him of which he is initially 100% shareholder. It will be a vehicle to hold investments and receive occasional fees associated with commercial development projects. Mr Barker confirmed that Pont Street Capital has no interest in or intention of getting involved in lobbying, now or in the future. He estimated that this will be a part-time, 1 day per month appointment. It will have one employee.

The Committee noted that Mr Barker stated that he does not yet have a list of potential or proposed clients for this company and that the primary purpose of the company is to be a personal investment holding company rather than an actively trading business.

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

• Neither Mr Barker nor his company, Pont Street Capital should draw on or disclose privileged information available to him from his time in Government (including in his capacity as the Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change) and

• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, neither Mr Barker nor his company, Pont Street Capital, should become personally involved in lobbying UK Government on behalf of his new employer its parent companies or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Barker in June 2015 and he took up the two appointments in July 2015.

4. Independent consultant, and commission with Ras Al Khaimah Development LLC

The Rt Hon Gregory Barker asked for the Committee’s advice about setting up an independent consultancy and accepting a commission under that consultancy with Ras Al Khaimah Development LLC, having left Government in July 2014.

When considering this application the Committee took into consideration the fact that the independent consultancy will provide strategic advice to international clients on geo-political issues, investor relations, corporate strategy, financial public relations and international public policy.

The Committee noted that Mr Barker stated that during his last two years in office he did not have any official dealings with his prospective client and he was not aware of any relationship, either contractual or non-contractual between the client and his former departments. Mr Barker stated that during his last two years in office he did not have any official dealings with competitors of the client.

Mr Barker further stated that none of the advice he would be providing to Ras Al Khaimah relates to the UK and that, going forward, the intention is to continue focusing on international projects. He has no intention to offer or undertake any lobbying of HM Government either now or in the future, or to seek any work from any company with whom he may have had a commercial relationship as a Minister.

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

• he should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Government;
• for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government on behalf of his new employer or its clients;
• given his ministerial brief as Minister for Business Engagement with India, in relation to commissions involving India, there is a waiting period of 6 months from his last day in ministerial office and
• once he has received approval to set up as an independent consultant, he must seek confirmation from the Committee directly that each individual commission is permissible under the terms of his consultancy before taking it up. If, after enquiry, the Committee takes the view that a commission is, or may be, outside the terms of the consultancy he will be expected to submit a fresh application.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Barker in November 2014 and he took up the commission later that month.

5. Non Executive Director, llioss Group

The Rt Hon Gregory Barker asked for the Committee’s advice about taking up a part-time paid appointment (1 day per week) with Ilioss Group having left Government in July 2014.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that Mr Barker will join the board as a non executive director to help with strategy, growth and governance of this major new solar company in Mexico, launched to drive forward distributed clean energy following the reform of their electricity sector.

The Committee noted that during his last two years in office Mr Barker stated that he did not have any official dealings with his prospective employer. As a Minister, he visited Mexico once, for the December 2010 Cancun Climate Change Conference. He stated that he was not aware of any relationship, either contractual or non contractual, between Ilioss Group and his former departments and that during his last two years in office he did not have any official dealings with competitors of his prospective employer.

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

• he should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Government (including in his capacity as the Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change) and
• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government on behalf of his new employer its parent companies or its clients.

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

6. Non Executive Director, Dragon Harvest Group

When considering this application, the Committee took into account the fact that Dragon Harvest Group is an investment platform for Asian capital seeking European opportunities for institutional and corporate investors. This is a new company, recently formed, and currently being registered in Hong Kong. Mr Barker will join as a main board non-executive Director, helping inform and monitor the overall group investment strategy and performance with a focus on investment in European infrastructure on behalf of Chinese investors.

The Committee noted that Mr Barker stated that during his last 2 years in office he did not have any official dealings with his prospective employer or its parent company and nor is he aware of any relationship, either contractual or non-contractual between his prospective employer and his former department. He stated that during his last 2 years of office he did not have any official dealings with competitors of his prospective employer or its parent company.

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

• Mr Barker should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Government (including in his capacity as the Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change) and

• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government on behalf of his new employers its parent companies or its clients.

The Committee understood that it was Mr Barker’s intention to stand down from his role as the Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change and that he would not take up the appointment with Dragon Harvest Group until he stood down.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Barker in February 2015 and he took up the role in April 2015.

7. Non Executive Director, Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd

When considering this application, the Committee took into account the fact that Mr Barker wishes to take up a part-time paid appointment with Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd; an organisation that sells solar panel technology to customers around the UK. He will join the Board of the organisation as a NED and your role will involve advising on commercial strategy in the UK and developing new opportunities in Africa.

The Committee noted that Mr Barker had official dealings with Lightsource during his last two years in office. This was in the form of meetings with the organisation, and other companies and members of the Solar Trade Association, to hear about their views on reforms and the market for renewable energy. He further stated that he had official dealings with competitors of his prospective employer in the solar sector, via attendance at conferences, roundtables and engagement with their trade bodies. He confirmed that he was not involved in the provision of grants or any specific regulatory work with Lightsource while in office and he did not have access to commercially sensitive information about competitors of Lightsource (or its parent company).

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

• Mr Barker should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Government (including in his capacity as the Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change) and

• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government on behalf of his new employers its parent companies or its clients.

The Committee understood that it was Mr Barker’s intention to stand down from his role as the Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change and that he would not take up the appointments with Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd until he stood down.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Barker in February 2015 and he took up the role later that month.