Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Peter Carroll

Updated 25 April 2016

Peter Carroll left his role as a Special Adviser in HM Treasury in April 2015.

1. Tendo Consulting company, and commission with Road Haulage Association

Peter Carroll sought advice on establishing a consultancy service, Tendo, providing general consultancy on how to communicate with government and how to deliver public affairs and public engagement strategies. He also sought permission to accept a commission with the Road Haulage Association. This company would be set up jointly with William de Peyer, a fellow former Special Adviser.

The Committee took into account that Mr Carroll intends to provide general consultancy advice, but that he does not intend to lobby government or civil servants directly. He has had no access to commercially sensitive information about competitors that would be of use to his new clients. The Committee also noted that HM Treasury did not consider that there were any conflicts of interest or commercially sensitive issues to consider.

The Permanent Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that this application be approved, subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant;

• for two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new company or its clients;

• once Mr Carroll has received approval to set up as an independent consultant, for two years from his last day of service 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 letter containing the advice was sent in June 2015 and he took up the new role later that month.

2. Commissions with TSB Bank Plc, Tax Incentivised Savings Association, McBee Strategic, National Defence Medal Campaign and SKB Global Consulting Inc.

Mr Carroll sought advice on accepting five commissions under the terms of his independent consultancy that was approved by the Committee in July 2015.

In October 2015 Mr Carroll sought advice on taking up commissions with TSB Bank Plc (TSB) and Tax Incentivised Savings Association (TISA).

In January 2016 he sought advice on taking up commissions with McBee Strategic, the National Defence Medal Campaign and SKB Global Consulting Inc.

The commission with TSB is to assist in the writing and production of a report into the benefits of competition across several markets in the UK and the TISA commission involves providing a three-hour training course on how it can best make representations to government. The commission with McBee Strategic is to act in a media consultancy capacity to help them gain public awareness and coverage for their clients. He will also be acting as a campaign consultant to the National Defence Medal Campaign and providing consultancy services to SKB Global Consulting Inc. to develop and implement a strategy to promote religious tolerance.

Mr Carroll sought advice jointly with Will de Peyer, a fellow former Special Adviser.

The Committee agreed that these commissions were permissible within the terms of Mr Carroll’s original consultancy, and should be subject to the conditions imposed on that consultancy.

The letter containing the Committee’s advice in relation to TSB Bank Plc and Tax Incentivised Savings Association was sent in October 2015 and the letter in relation to the remaining commissions was sent in January 2016. Four of the commissions were taken up in January 2016. The remaining commission (SKB Global Consulting Inc.) was taken up in April 2016.

3. Commission running a campaign on drugs reform

Mr Carroll sought advice on running a campaign on drugs reform through his consultancy company, Tendo Consulting, with funding from organisations with an interest in the subject.

The Committee noted his assurance that the campaign will not involve any direct lobbying of Government and will be directed towards raising public awareness of the issues.

Mr Carroll sought advice jointly with Will de Peyer, a fellow former Special Adviser.

The Committee noted that this commission went further than the original terms of the consultancy, which was defined as providing ‘general consultancy on how to communicate with Government and how to deliver public affairs and public engagement strategies’. However, in view of the fact that Mr Carroll had no involvement in relevant policy areas while in Government, and his assurance about not lobbying Government, the Committee was prepared to approve the commission subject to the conditions imposed on the original consultancy.

The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in February 2016.

4. Commission with Association of British Insurers

Mr Carroll sought advice on accepting a commission to deliver a short presentation to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on campaigning techniques.

The Committee noted his assurance that the planned presentation will be based almost entirely on his experience of campaigning (on the FairFuelUK campaign and the Gurkha Justice Campaign) prior to entering Crown service.

Mr Carroll sought advice jointly with Will de Peyer, a fellow former Special Adviser.

The Committee agreed that this commission was permissible within the terms of Mr Carroll’s original consultancy, and should be subject to the conditions imposed on that consultancy.

The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in April 2016 and the commission was taken up later that month.