Summary of business appointments applications - Lord Livingston of Parkhead
Updated 12 October 2016
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Lord Livingston of Parkhead left his role as Minister of State for Trade and Investment in May 2015.
1. Advisory Board Member, Livingbridge
Lord Livingston sought the Committee’s advice about a part time role as a Member of the Advisory Board of Livingbridge, a private equity investor in SMEs.
When considering this application the Committee noted that Lord Livingston had no dealings with the organisation while in ministerial office, there is no relationship between the organisation and his former departments and the role will not include any lobbying of Government.
The Committee advised Lord Livingston that it could see no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the following conditions:
- He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) 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 Livingbridge, its partners, subsidiaries or clients.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Livingston in June 2016 and the appointment was taken up in September 2016.
2. Non Executive Director/Non Executive Chairman, Man Group
Lord Livingston sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid appointment with Man Group, an investment/fund manager. He would initially act as a Non Executive Director, before taking over as Non Executive Chairman.
When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Lord Livingston had no official dealings with Man Group during his last two years in office. Although he had dealings with a range of fund managers, none were direct competitors of Man Group. The Committee noted that his former departments, FCO and BIS, had no propriety concerns regarding this appointment.
The Committee advised Lord Livingston that it saw no reason why he 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) 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 Man Group, its partners or its clients.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Livingston in November 2015 and the appointment was taken up in December 2015.
Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.
3. Deputy Chairman, Dixons Carphone Plc
Lord Livingston sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid appointment as Deputy Chairman of Dixons Carphone, a consumer electronics and mobile phone retailer.
When considering this application, the Committee took into account that this is non-executive role and during his last two years in office, Lord Livingston had no official dealings with Dixons Carphone and is not aware of a relationship between them and his former departments (FCO and BIS). His former departments had no propriety concerns with this appointment.
The Committee advised Lord Livingston that it saw no reason why he should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:
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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 from his time as a Minister; and
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for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Dixons Carphone Plc, its subsidiaries or customers.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Livingston in December 2015, and the appointment was announced later that month.
Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.
4. Non Executive Director/Chairman of Audit Committee, Belmond Ltd
Lord Livingston sought the Committee’s advice about a part-time, paid appointment with Belmond, a hotel and leisure company. He would initially act as a Non-Executive Director, before taking over as the future Chairman of their Audit Committee.
When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Lord Livingston had no official dealings with Belmond during his last two years in office. It noted that, although he had some contact with a competitor of Belmond while in office, this contact was through his involvement in a trade mission to China, and Lord Livingston had provided his assurance that no sensitive information was exchanged on the visit. Furthermore, the Committee noted that his former departments, FCO and BIS, had no propriety concerns regarding this appointment.
The Committee advised Lord Livingston that it saw no reason why he 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) 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 Belmond, its parent company, subsidiaries or clients.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Livingston in October 2015 and the appointment was taken up in November 2015.
Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.
5. Non Executive Director, Jewish Care
Lord Livingston sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an unpaid, part-time appointment with Jewish Care, a charity that provides health and social welfare support services for vulnerable members of the Jewish community. He would act as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Trustees.
When considering this application, the Committee noted that Lord Livingston had no official dealings with Jewish Care during his last two years in office and that the role would not require him to lobby government. Furthermore the Committee noted that his former departments, FCO and BIS, had no propriety concerns regarding this appointment.
The Committee advised Lord Livingston that it saw no reason why he 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) 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 Jewish Care, its parent company, subsidiaries or clients.
The Committee wrote its advice letter to Lord Livingston in October 2015 and the appointment was taken up in November 2015.
Baroness Browning recused herself from this case.