Summary of business appointments applications - Stephen Lotinga
Updated 1 June 2016
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Stephen Lotinga left his role as Director of Communications in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office in March 2015.
1. Chief Executive, Publishers Association
Mr Lotinga sought the Committee’s advice about a full time appointment as Chief Executive of the Publishers Association.
The Committee took into account that Mr Lotinga had no official dealings with the Publishers Association while in Crown service, and no involvement in policy that could have affected its work. They also noted that his former department, Cabinet Office, had no concerns regarding the application.
The Permanent Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that there was no reason why Mr Lotinga should not take up this appointment, subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Lotinga 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 in Crown Service;
- for two years from his last day in Crown Service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on any matter with which he was directly involved while in government (this is not intended to prevent communications with Government that are part of the normal course of business for the Publishers Association); and
- Mr Lotinga should avoid direct commercial contact with the Cabinet Office.
The Committee wrote its advice letter about this appointment in December 2015 and the appointment was taken up in January 2016.
2. Director of External Affairs and Strategy, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Mr Lotinga sought the Committee’s advice on taking up an appointment as Director of External Affairs and Strategy at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
The Committee took into consideration that the PHSO is an independent complaints handling service set up by Parliament to help individuals and the public; that Mr Lotinga has had no previous dealings with the PHSO; and that his former Department have no concerns about the appointment, and suggested that the standard two-year lobbying ban be amended to allow him to liaise with the Government as part of his role.
The Permanent Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that the application be approved subject to the following conditions:
• Mr Lotinga should not draw on [disclose, or use, for the benefit of himself or the PHSO] privileged information available to him from his time in Crown Service; and
• for two years from his last day of service, he should not generally become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the PHSO. However, in view of the nature of the PHSO’s work, this restriction should not apply, in this case, to communications with Government on matters that are an integral part of the work of the PHSO in handling public service complaints; nor with regard to matters arising from the current consultation and any subsequent legislation leading to the creation of and transition to a new public service ombudsman.
The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in September 2015 and the appointment was taken up that month.