Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Mark Harper

Published 19 July 2017

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Mark Harper left his role as Government Chief Whip in July 2016.

1. Senior Adviser to the law firm DWF LLP.

Mr Harper sought the Committee’s advice about an appointment as a Senior Adviser to the law firm DWF LLP. Mr Harper’s role will include providing advice on Communications and strategy to clients and management. It is a part-time, paid role.

When considering the application, the Committee noted that he left office as the Government Chief Whip in July 2016, and that 18 months has passed since Mr Harper’s last day in office as Minister for Disabled People. It also noted that whilst DWF LLP has an existing relationship with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Mr Harper had no official dealings with DWF LLP, or their competitors, in his last two years in office. Neither Cabinet Office or DWP had any propriety concerns about Mr Harper taking up this role.

The Committee advised that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the appointment be made subject to the following conditions:

  • 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 Government on behalf of DWF LLP.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in November 2016 and the appointment was taken up/announced in February 2017.

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