Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Rt Hon William Hague

Updated 17 January 2017

Mr Hague left his role as First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons in May 2015.

1. Non-Executive Director, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE)

Mr Hague sought permission to accept a part-time, paid appointment as Non-Executive Director at ICE.

When considering this, the Committee took into account that Mr Hague did not have any direct official dealings with ICE whilst he was in ministerial office. They also noted that his former department had no concerns about the appointment.

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

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him 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 Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), ICE Futures Europe, its subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Hague in July 2015 and the appointment was announced in September 2015.

2. Chairman, Royal United Services Institute

Mr Hague sought permission to accept an unpaid role as Chairman of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

When considering this, the Committee took into account that Mr Hague had some contact with RUSI while in office, as he gave a speech to the organisation while Foreign Secretary, and that, as a leading think tank, RUSI has occasional discussions and meetings with officials from the FCO. However, they also noted that his former departments had no concerns about this appointment.

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

• a three month waiting period from his last day in ministerial office;
• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him 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 RUSI, or any customers or clients of the organisation.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Hague in June 2015 and the appointment was announced in July 2015.

3. Chairman of International Advisory Group, Linklaters LLP

Mr Hague sought permission to accept a paid role as Chairman of the International Advisory Group at Linklaters. The Committee took into account that Mr Hague did not have any direct official dealings with Linklaters, or any of their competitors, in his last two years of ministerial office, nor any significant ones prior to that. Furthermore, he was not involved in policy development, the award of grants, or any regulatory work that could have affected the organisation.

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

• a three month waiting period from his last day in ministerial office;
• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him 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 Linklaters, and any subsidiaries, or any customers or clients of the organisation.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Hague in June 2015 and it was announced in July 2015.

4. Senior Advisor, Teneo Holdings

Mr Hague sought permission to accept a paid role as a Senior Advisor at Teneo. The Committee took into account that Mr Hague did not have any direct official dealings with Teneo, or any of their competitors, in his last two years of ministerial office, nor any significant ones prior to that. Furthermore, he was not involved in policy development, the award of grants, or any regulatory work that could have affected the organisation.

The Committee noted with concern that unofficial reports about this role had appeared in the press before it could give its advice. However, Mr Hague notified the committee that no contract had been signed prior to advice being sought, and that he did not believe the information in the press originated from either him or Teneo.

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

• a three month waiting period from his last day in ministerial office;
• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him 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 Teneo, and any subsidiaries, or any customers or clients of the organisations.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Hague in June 2015 and it was announced in July 2015.

5. Consultant, Citigroup

Lord Hague sought the Committee’s advice on taking up employment with Citigroup as a consultant, providing advice on global, political and economic events.

The Committee noted that this is a paid, part-time role (involving approximately 30 days’ work per year).

When considering the application, the Committee took into account that Lord Hague had no official dealings with Citigroup or its competitors during his last two years in office and that the appointment is not likely to include contact or dealings with Government.

The Committee sought the views of the Permanent Secretaries at the Cabinet Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who expressed no concerns about the appointment.

The Committee advised Lord Hague that this appointment be 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 Citigroup, its subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Hague in August 2016 and the appointment was announced in February 2017.