Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Lord Deighton

Updated 16 May 2016

Lord Deighton left his role as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury in May 2015.

1. Non-executive Director, Square, Inc.

Lord Deighton sought the Committee’s advice about an appointment as a non-executive director of Square, Inc. a US technology business in the financial services industry.

When considering this application the Committee noted that Lord Deighton did not have any official dealings with Square, Inc., competitors of the company or the sector in which they operate during his last two years in office; neither did he have access to commercially sensitive information or unannounced policy that could give Square, Inc. an unfair advantage. The appointment is not likely to include any contact or dealings with his former department (HM Treasury) or with Government more generally.

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

• That 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 Square, Inc. or its subsidiaries or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts within Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure business on behalf of Square, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Deighton in April 2016 and the appointment was announced in May 2016.

2. Executive Chairman, Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd

Lord Deighton sought the Committee’s advice about an appointment as Executive Chairman of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, the owner and operator of Heathrow Airport.

When considering this application the Committee noted that Lord Deighton had left his ministerial position in HM Treasury nine months earlier. The Committee also noted that HM Treasury had found no records of submissions or advice indicating that Lord Deighton had access to commercially sensitive information or unannounced government policy relevant to Heathrow Airport. However, the Committee was clear that a two year lobbying restriction should apply in this case.

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

• That 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 Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd. (In particular he should not use his Whitehall contacts to influence policy or secure business).

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Deighton in February 2016 and the appointment was announced in March 2016.

3. Non Executive Director, Holdingham Group

Lord Deighton sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid appointment with Holdingham Group, as a Non Executive Director.

The Committee took into account that he had had no dealings with Holdingham Group during his last two years in ministerial office, and that he was unaware of any relationship between the organisation and his former department.

The Committee advised Lord Deighton 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 organisations or persons 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 Holdingham Group Ltd, its subsidiaries, partners or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Deighton in November 2015 and the appointment was announced in December 2015.

Mary Jo Jacobi and Baroness Liddell recused themselves from this case.

4. Chairing a Governance Review, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

Lord Deighton sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid appointment with the IAAF, the world governing body of athletics. The Committee noted that this role would involve chairing a review of the organisation’s systems and controls, and how to establish the best practices in class governance.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that, during his last two years in office, Lord Deighton had no official dealings with IAAF and was not aware of a relationship between IAAF and his former department. His former department, HM Treasury, had no concerns regarding the propriety of this appointment.

The Committee advised Lord Deighton that it saw no reason why he should not accept 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 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 IAAF or its members.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Deighton in November 2015 and the appointment was taken up that month.