Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Sir Simon Hughes

Published 15 February 2016

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Sir Simon Hughes left his role as Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, in May 2015.

1. Head of Public Affairs, The Open University

Sir Simon Hughes sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with The Open University (the OU). The Committee noted that this is a full time, paid role and that Sir Simon would hold the position for a year.

When considering the application the Committee noted that nine months had passed since Sir Simon left ministerial office. It was also mindful that Sir Simon was taking up a role that reflects and furthers an interest in maximising access to education, which pre-dates his ministerial role.

The Committee took into account that there is no link between this position and Sir Simon’s previous ministerial duties. The Committee noted that the role will not involve lobbying of government on any matters concerning public funding of the OU or any lobbying at all of his former department, the Ministry of Justice.

The Committee advised Sir Simon that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment subject to the following conditions:

  • That 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 UK Government on behalf of The Open University except that in this case the Committee accepts that he may need to engage with government on educational and other issues and in the normal course of university business as opposed to issues relating to the public funding of The Open University or its students.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Sir Simon in February 2016, following which he took up the role with the OU.

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