Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Helen Grant

Updated 19 July 2017

Helen Grant left her role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DCMS, in May 2015.

1. Non-Executive Director of Cell Therapy Limited

Helen Grant sought the Committee’s advice about become a Non-Executive Director of Cell Therapy Limited (Cell Therapy), which trades as Celixir.

Cell Therapy is a company that focuses on the research and development of medicine and bringing them to market - in particular to treat heart disease. It is also investigating the use of certain types of cells to treat diabetes and cancer.

The Committee took into consideration that Ms Grant had no dealings with Cell Therapy or any of its competitors whilst in office. Further, her former department were asked for their views on this appointment and they confirmed they had no concerns about this role.

The Committee also took into consideration the length of time that has passed since Ms Grant left Ministerial office, 21 months ago.

The Committee’s advice was that the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her as a Minister; and

• for two years from her last day in Ministerial office, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Cell Therapy Ltd.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Ms Grant in March 2017 and the appointment was taken up in April 2017.

2. Trustee, Social Mobility Foundation

Ms Grant sought advice about an unpaid appointment as a Trustee of the Social Mobility Foundation, a charity that aims to make a practical improvement in social mobility for young people from low-income backgrounds.

The Committee noted that Ms Grant had no dealings with the Social Mobility Foundation while in office, that the role will be unpaid, and that her former department had no concerns with her taking up this post.

The Committee advised Ms Grant that it could see no reason why she should not take up this post, subject to the following conditions:

• She should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time as a Minister; and
• For two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Social Mobility Foundation.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Ms Grant in June 2016 and she took up the role in July 2016.

3. Trustee, Human Trafficking Foundation

Ms Grant sought advice about a part-time, unpaid appointment as a Trustee of the Human Trafficking Foundation, a UK-based charity which grew out of the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking.

When considering this application the Committee noted that the role would involve attending about four meetings a year and preparing Parliamentary Questions from time to time, and that Ms Grant may also speak in debates on human trafficking and sponsor relevant events.

The Committee noted that this is an unpaid appointment with a charity that aims to fight modern day slavery and human trafficking, and which works closely with the Foreign and Home Offices.

The Committee advised Ms Grant that it could see no reason why she should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• She should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time as a Minister; and
• For two years from her last day in ministerial office she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Human Trafficking Foundation.

The Committee noted that these conditions do not apply to Ms Grant’s activities in Parliament, which are subject to other rules.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Ms Grant in March 2016 and she took up the role in April 2016.

4. Honorary Patron, Women in Racing (WIR)

Ms Grant sought advice about a part-time, unpaid appointment with Women in Racing, an organisation that seeks to develop the profile of women in the sport of horse racing.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that there is a relationship between DCMS and WIR, and that Ms Grant had some official dealings with them while in office. However, they noted that any contact Ms Grant had formed part of her ministerial duty in promoting women in sport, and DCMS’s relationship with the organisation was based on cooperating on this issue. They also noted that this was an unpaid role, and DCMS had no concerns about the appointment.

The Committee advised Ms Grant that it saw no reason why she should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time as a Minister; and
• for two years from her last day in ministerial office, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Women in Racing, its partners or any of its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Ms Grant in August 2015.

Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.