Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - General Sir Nicholas Houghton

Updated 12 July 2018

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/houghton-general-sir-nicholas-chief-of-defence-staff-ministry-of-defence-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointments-applications-general-sir-nicholas-houghton

General Sir Nicholas Houghton left his role as Chief of Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence in January 2017. His last day in post was 14 July 2016.

1. Independent Consultant - De Vincuis Ltd and subsequent commissions

Sir Nick sought advice on setting up as an independent consultant through a private company (De Vinculis Ltd). Sir Nick described his consultancy as offering strategic advice in ‘non-contentious areas that do not relate to Government policy or commercial interests’. His services will focus on advising at board level on corporate leadership, operating model enhancements and geo-political risk.

The Committee noted the time that had passed since Sir Nick’s last day of involvement in MOD business. However, given the seniority of Sir Nick’s position as Head of the Armed Forces, the Committee considered it was appropriate to recommend a three-month waiting period from last day in Crown service, consistent with the approach it has taken to other Crown servants of equivalent standing.

The Committee also considered it was appropriate to apply to his consultancy a two-year ban on working within the UK Defence market and a two year ban on advising on the terms of bids and contracts that relate to the MOD.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, Sir Nick’s independent consultancy should be subject to the following conditions:

  • a three-month waiting period from last day in Crown service; that he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;
  • for two years from his last day in post he should not work in the UK Defence market;
  • for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not undertake any work as a consultant that involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of, or with regard to the subject matter of, a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the MOD or is trading funds;
  • for two years from his last day of service he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of any of his clients or those he advises, nor make use of, directly or indirectly, his Government and/or Crown Service contacts to influence policy or secure business on behalf of his clients;
  • for two years from his last day in Crown service, before accepting any new commissions and or/before extending or otherwise changing the nature of any commission, he should make a case directly to the Committee to confirm that each individual commission he wished to take would be permissible under the terms of this consultancy.

The Committee sent its letter of Advice in February 2017

Since establishing the Independent Consultancy the following commissions have been taken up - the Committee’s advice letters and the conditions imposed can be accessed using the links:

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