Decision

Summary of business appointment applications - Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Updated 5 December 2018

1. Chairman at Assured Food Standards Ltd

Baroness Neville-Rolfe sought the Committee’s advice about a paid appointment as the Chairman at Assured Food Standards (AFS); an independent, not-for-profit organisation, which aims to promote assurance on behalf of the food industry. Baroness Neville-Rolfe said she will have several responsibilities will including assisting Directors and the Senior Management Team; chairing the Ownership Body and Board to ensure open and balanced discussion; chairing the Nominations Committee and maintain an effective Board of Directors; attending meetings of other Board Committees as appropriate - Audit, Remuneration, Standards, Finance and General Purposes, and Marketing; as well as other duties.

The Committee took into account that Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) confirmed she had no official contact or dealings with AFS whilst in office; and that the Department has no relationship with it. The Committee therefore considered there was little risk this role could be seen as a reward.

The Committee also noted HMT’s confirmation that Baroness Neville-Rolfe has no commercially sensitive information or knowledge about unannounced Government policy. However, the Committee recognised there is a possibility she may have some contact with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. To guard against any risk that AFS may seek to influence government policy at some point in the future - the lobbying ban imposed makes clear that any use of contacts made whilst in office for this purpose, would be inappropriate.

The Committee advised that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her as a Minister; and
• for two years from her last day in service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Assured Food Standards Ltd or its partners. This is not intended to prevent her from reporting to Government on the activities of Assured Food Standards Ltd, or from advising the UK Government in relation to subjects that are an integral part of normal business for AFS when the UK Government has asked for such advice. However, it would prevent her from making use, directly or indirectly, of her contacts in Government to influence policy or secure funding on behalf of Assured Food Standards Ltd or its partners.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in October 2017 and was taken up in November 2017.

Baroness Angela Browning and Baroness Helen Liddell recused themselves from this application.

2. Non-Executive Director, Capita Plc

Baroness Neville-Rolfe sought the Committee’s advice about a paid appointment as a Non-Executive Director at Capita; an international business process outsourcing and professional services company.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe stated her role will last for an initial term of three years. In addition to general Non-Executive Director duties, she described her main responsibilities as: providing entrepreneurial leadership of the company within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed; setting the company’s strategic aims, ensuring the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the company to meets its objectives, and reviewing management performance; and setting the company’s values and standards and ensure that its obligations to its shareholders and others are understood and met.

The Committee took into account that HMT and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) confirmed they have several contracts with Capita, but that Baroness Neville-Rolfe had no official contact or dealings with Capita whilst in office, nor was she involved in the contracts it has with either Department. As there is no direct link between her ministerial responsibilities and this role, the Committee considered there is no real risk this role was offered as a reward.

HMT and BEIS confirmed Baroness Neville-Rolfe has no commercially sensitive information. However, the Committee considered that whilst she does not expect to have contact with Government in this role, there is a small risk Capita could unfairly benefit as a result of the contacts Baroness Neville-Rolfe will have gained across Government and Whitehall, given the short time between her leaving office and taking up this role. The lobbying ban imposed takes this into account.

The Committee advised that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her as a Minister;
• for two years from her last day in service, she should not involve herself in work on or advice to Capita Plc, its partners or subsidiaries, in relation to the terms of bids or contracts relating directly to the work of the UK Government, or to the subject matter of bids or contracts in areas that fell within her ministerial portfolio; and
• for two years from her last day in service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Capita Plc or its partners or subsidiaries, nor should she make use, directly or indirectly, of her contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure business on behalf of Capita Plc or its partners or subsidiaries.

The letter containing the final decision was sent in November 2017 and was taken up in December 2017.

Baroness Angela Browning and Baroness Helen Liddell recused themselves from this application.

3. Adviser, Bridge Farm Group

Baroness Neville-Rolfe sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment as an Adviser to Bridge Farm Group.

The letter containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in July 2018. The appointment was taken up later that month.

Baroness Angela Browning and Baroness Helen Liddell recused themselves from this application.

4. Non-Executive Director, Health Data Research UK

Baroness Neville-Rolfe sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment as a Non-Executive Director at Health Data Research UK.

The letter containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in August 2018. The appointment was taken up later that month.

Baroness Angela Browning and Baroness Helen Liddell recused themselves from this application.

5. Non-Executive Director, Secure Trust Bank

Baroness Neville-Rolfe sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment as a Non-Executive Director at Secure Trust Bank.

The letter containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in November 2018. The appointment was taken up later that month.

Baroness Angela Browning and Baroness Helen Liddell recused themselves from this application.

6. Trustee, Thomson Reuters

The letter containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in December 2018. The appointment was take up in January 2019.

Baroness Angela Browning and Baroness Helen Liddell recused themselves from this application.