Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Rt Hon Lord Lansley

Updated 25 November 2015

Lord Lansley left his role as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal in July 2014.

1. Chair, UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Lord Lansley sought the Committee’s advice on a part-time, unremunerated role as Chair of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group, which aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

When considering this application, the Committee noted that Lord Lansley did not have any official dealings with the Group in his last two years in office. They also noted that his former departments, Cabinet Office and Department of Health, had no propriety concerns regarding this application.

The Committee saw no reason why Lord Lansley should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) privileged information available to him from his time 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 UK-Japan 21st Century Group or its members. This is not intended to prevent him reporting generally with regard to the activities of the group and its meetings or submitting such reports to Government pursuant to his role of Chairman.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Lansley in November 2015 and the appointment was taken up that month.

2. Associate, Low Associates

Lord Lansley sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a part-time appointment with Low Associates.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Low Associates is founded by Lord Lansley’s wife, Sally Low. It also noted that Lord Lansley was an associate with Low Associates before becoming a Minister and, although he did not do any work for the company whilst holding Ministerial office, his position was declared throughout the time that he was a Minister.

Lord Lansley’s former departments, Cabinet Office and Department of Health, have no propriety concerns regarding this appointment.

The Committee sees no reason why Lord Lansley should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time as a Minister;
• for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government; and
• before accepting any commissions from Low Commissions, he should seek the Committee’s advice on each commission he wishes to undertake.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Lansley in June 2015 and he took up the appointment in October 2015.

3. Adviser, UK Active

Mr Lansley sought the Committee’s advice about accepting a part-time, paid appointment with UK Active.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that as Secretary of State, Mr Lansley initiated the responsibility deal, a voluntary partnership between Government, the health sector and industry. A strand of this was the promotion of physical activity and UK Active joined this in March 2011. However, the Committee noted that Mr Lansley’s contact with UK Active, as Secretary of State, was in the wider context of the health programme and, during his last three years in office, he did not have official dealings with either UK Active or their competitors.

Mr Lansley’s former departments, Cabinet Office and Department of Health have confirmed there are no propriety concerns with this appointment.

The Committee sees no reason why Mr Lansley should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time 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

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Lansley in June 2015 and he took up the appointment in August.

4. Consultant, Bain & Company

Mr Lansley sought the Committee’s advice about accepting a part-time, paid appointment with Bain & Company.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Mr Lansley did not have any direct, official dealings with Bain during his last two years in office. The Committee also noted that his former departments, Cabinet Office and Department of Health, had no propriety concerns regarding this appointment.

The Committee sees no reason why Mr Lansley should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• That he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Government on behalf of Bain & Company, their subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Lansley in July 2015 and the appointment was taken up in August 2015.

5. Adviser/Consultant, The Blackstone Group International Partners LLP

Mr Lansley sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid appointment with Blackstone, a global investment firm advising institutional investors.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Mr Lansley had no official dealings with Blackstone during his last two years in office and is not aware of a relationship between his former departments and Blackstone. The Committee also noted that Mr Lansley did not have any dealings with competitors of Blackstone.

Taking into account the circumstances, and the views of Mr Lansley’s former departments, Cabinet Office and Department of Health, who had no propriety concerns, the Committee sees no reason why Mr Lansley should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time 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 Blackstone Group International Partners LLP, its parent companies, subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Lansley in July 2015.

6. Speaker, Dod’s Training

Mr Lansley sought the Committee’s advice about accepting a part-time, paid appointment with Dod’s Training carrying out occasional speaking engagements.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Mr Lansley did not have any official dealings with Dod’s or its competitors during his last two years in office. They also noted that his former departments, Cabinet Office and Department of Health had no propriety concerns regarding this appointment.

The Committee sees no reason why Mr Lansley should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Lansley in June 2015 and he took up the appointment that month.