Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP

Updated 16 May 2016

Norman Lamb MP left his role as Minister for Care and Support, Department of Health, in May 2015.

1. Member of the Advisory Board, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

Mr Lamb sought advice on accepting an appointment as a member of the Advisory Board of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, a new organisation being constituted as a charity, which will conduct research and develop policy proposals to improve the lives of those with mental health conditions and financial problems.

The Committee noted that this was an unpaid appointment, and that the Institute was not established until after Mr Lamb had left ministerial office.

The Committee advised Mr Lamb that it could see 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 Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Lamb in April 2016 and the appointment was taken up later that month.

2. Board Member, Think Ahead

Mr Lamb sought the Committee’s advice about an unpaid appointment as a Board Member of Think Ahead, a programme set up to attract and develop mental health social workers.

The Committee sought the views of Mr Lamb’s former department, which did not have any concerns regarding the propriety of the appointment.

Taking into account the specific facts in this case, the Committee advised Mr Lamb 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 Think Ahead, except that in this case the Committee accepts that this would not prevent contact with Government pursuant to his role with Think Ahead but would prevent his involvement in any competitive tendering or bidding processes while carrying out this role.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Lamb in February 2016 and he took up the new role in March 2016.

3. Chair, Mental Health Commission, West Midlands Combined Authority

Mr Lamb sought the Committee’s advice about an appointment as Chair of a Mental Health Commission for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). The Committee noted that this is a paid position, lasting for nine months.

The Committee noted its concern that this appointment was announced before it had the opportunity to provides its advice. Nonetheless, it sought the opinion of Mr Lamb’s former department, which did not have any concerns regarding the propriety of this appointment. Had the appointment not been announced before the Committee could offer its advice, the Committee would have advised that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment subject to the following conditions:

• 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 WMCA or its constituent members. This is not intended to prevent him reporting to Government on the activities of the Commission or submitting recommendations to Government pursuant to his role as Chairman; and
• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him in his time as a Minister.

The Committee wrote its letter to Mr Lamb in January 2016.