Summary of business appointments applications - Richard Douglas
Updated 30 March 2016
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Mr Douglas left his role as Director General, Finance and NHS, Department of Health, in May 2015.
1. Adviser, Government Faculty, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Mr Douglas sought advice on an appointment as an Adviser to the Government Faculty of CIPFA.
The Committee noted that, given Mr Douglas’s background as a finance professional, while in post he met with all the major accountancy institutes roughly once a quarter. However, they also took into account the views of Mr Douglas’s former department, which had no concerns and did not believe CIPFA could gain any unfair advantage through the appointment, especially given that relevant thinking in the department and wider Government Finance Profession is routinely shared with and shaped by all accountancy bodies. Furthermore, they noted that Mr Douglas left office nearly a year ago, and so his knowledge from the department is a year out of date.
The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that there was no reason why Mr Douglas should not accept this position, subject to the following conditions:
- For two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of CIPFA, its partners or members; and
- He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations to which this advice refers) privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service.
The letter containing the final advice was sent to March 2016 and the appointment was taken up later that month.
2. Senior Counsel, Incisive Health
Mr Douglas sought advice on an appointment as Senior Counsel with Incisive Health, a health policy consultancy.
The Committee noted that the role will involve providing advice on internal governance and strategic direction, advising on public affairs strategies for clients, and supporting professional development. They also took into account Mr Douglas’s statement that the role will not involve direct dealings with either clients of Incisive Health or civil servants, and that he will not have contact with his former department or government more generally.
The Committee took into account the views of the Department of Health, which had no concerns about the appointment and felt that the gap since his last day in service meant he had not had access to information that could give his new employer an unfair advantage.
The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that there was no reason why Mr Douglas should not accept this position, subject to the following conditions:
- For two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Incisive Health or its clients; and
- He should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service.
The letter containing the final advice was sent in February 2016 and the appointment was announced later that month.