Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Sir Jon Day

Published 28 February 2017

Sir Jon Day left his role as Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee in January 2016.

1. Director, Southampton University Centre for Homeland Security; Special Advisor, Credit Agricole; Trustee, The Battlefields Trust

Sir Jon Day sought the Committee’s advice about the following three appointments:

1.1 Director, Southampton University Centre for Homeland Security

The aim of the Centre is to work in partnership with Government, the private sector and academia to break down boundaries and build practical cooperation. The focus on cyber, resilience and other aspects of homeland security is in line with HMG’s priorities and will add to the UK’s attractiveness as a partner at home and abroad.

The Committee noted that this is a paid role, involving three days’ work per week.

1.2 Special Advisor, Credit Agricole

Sir Jon has been invited to become a senior defence and security expert to provide objective advice on the international context of Credit Agricole’s business. This post is paid and will involve two days’ work per month.

The Committee noted that Sir Jon had no prior official contact with the company. It also noted that Sir Jon has incorporated into his contract the following three terms (the second and third terms are not time dependent):

• “I will not be asked to become personally involved in lobbying the UK on behalf of Credit Agricole or its clients until two years after my last day of Crown service on 15 January 2016.
• I will not draw on, disclose or use privileged information made available to me as a Crown servant.
• I may exempt myself from any area of the bank’s business where I judge my role would run directly counter to the UK’s national security interests.”

1.3 Trustee, The Battlefields Trust

This is an unpaid position as a trustee with The Battlefields Trust, which seeks to protect historic battlefield sites in England.

The Committee noted that this role would not include any contact or dealings with Government.

When considering the application for the roles described above, the Committee took into account that the Cabinet Office has no reservations about any of these appointments and is supportive of the role with Southampton University, which it considers to be in the public interest. It was also mindful that Sir Jon would not take up these appointments until mid January 2017, one year after his departure from the Civil Service.

1.4 Outcome

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, these appointments be subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
• For two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Credit Agricole; Southampton University Centre for Homeland Security or The Battlefields Trust or 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 these organisations. This does not preclude routine contact on matters aligned with Government policy relating to the role with Southampton University.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in January 2017. Sir Jon took up the appointments with Southampton University and the Battlefields Trust the same month and the appointment with Credit Agricole in February 2017.