Summary of business appointments application - Rupert Harrison
Updated 24 May 2017
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Rupert Harrison left his role as Special Adviser in HM Treasury in March 2015.
1. Chair of Advisory Board, The Fore Trust
Rupert Harrison sought the Committee’s advice about taking up the position of Chair of the Advisory Board at The Fore Trust. This is a sub trust of The Bulldog Trust, a charity providing grants and technical support to new innovative charities and social enterprises.
In considering the application the Committee noted that this is an unpaid role, which will amount to the equivalent of two days’ work per year and is unlikely to include any contact or dealings with Government.
The Committee took into account that Mr Harrison had no official dealings with The Bulldog Trust/ The Fore Trust in his last two years of service. They also noted that HM Treasury indicated that they could see no conflict of interest and were content for Mr Harrison to take up this post.
The Permanent Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the post be subject to the following conditions:
- he should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
- for two years from his last day in service he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of The Bulldog Trust/ The Fore Trust or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure business on behalf of The Bulldog Trust/ The Fore Trust or those they represent.
The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in November 2016.
2. Managing Director, Dynamic Diversified Growth team, Blackrock
Mr Harrison sought advice on accepting a role as Managing Director in the Dynamic Diversified Growth team at Blackrock. Blackrock is a multinational investment management corporation based in America
The Committee took into account that Mr Harrison has been involved in the development of the Government’s approach to regulation of the banking sector. However, this work was focussed on the nature of the structure of the financial sector in general and did not specifically relate to asset management. The Committee noted that he has not had access to commercially sensitive information about any competitors of Blackrock.
The Committee advised that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:
- he should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown servant;
- for two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new company or its clients.
Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.
The letter containing the final advice was sent in June 2015 and the appointment was announced later that month.
3. Trustee, Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships
Mr Harrison sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a trustee position with the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships (TCCR), a charity that undertakes training, counselling, psychotherapy and research.
In considering the application the Committee noted that this is an unpaid role and is not likely to include any contact or dealings with government.
The Committee took into account that Mr Harrison had no official dealings with TCCR in his last two years of service. Furthermore, the Committee noted that while TCCR receives funding from government, this does not come from HM Treasury directly.
The Committee advised Mr Harrison that it could see no reason why he should not take up this appointment, 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 Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships or its parent organisation, Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology; and
- He should not draw on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service.
Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.
The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in February 2016 and the appointment was taken up the following month.