Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Dan Rogerson

Updated 19 July 2017

Dan Rogerson left his role as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in May 2015.

1. Chair, Wessex Water Partnership

Mr Rogerson sought the Committee’s advice about accepting a role as Chair of the Wessex Water Partnership, a customer panel that was set up to offer challenge and scrutiny to the board of Wessex Water.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that, as the Minister responsible for water in Defra, Mr Rogerson did have some dealings with Wessex Water, and will have taken decisions that affected them. However, the Committee sought the views of his former department, which confirmed that his decisions while in office will have affected all in the water industry equally, and that there is no way he could be seen to have favoured Wessex Water.

However, given Mr Rogerson’s former responsibilities as a Minister, the Committee believed that it was appropriate for there to be a gap between that role and his new position.

The Committee advised Mr Rogerson that there was no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• He should not take up the post until 1 January 2016;
• 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 you 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 his new employer, its parent company or its clients

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Rogerson in October 2015 and the appointment was announced in December 2015.

2. Non-Executive Director, Plumb Partners Group

Mr Rogerson sought the Committee’s advice about accepting a paid role as a Non-Executive Director at Plumb Partners Group, which consists of various companies that are involved in the importation, exportation, design, manufacture, sale and distribution of construction and home products such as underfloor heating and heating control systems.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account information provided by DEFRA, that it does not have a relationship with Plumb Partners Group and that Mr Rogerson had no official meetings with it while a Minister. It also took into account that this role will not include any lobbying or contact with Government. The Permanent Secretary of Mr Rogerson’s former department was consulted and had no reservations about the appointment. The Committee was also mindful that 22 months had passed since he left Ministerial office.

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

• 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 Plumb Partners Group or its subsidiaries or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government to influence policy or secure business on their behalf.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Rogerson in March 2017 and the appointment has since been taken up.