Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Sir Richard Stagg

Updated 1 June 2016

Sir Richard Stagg left his role as HM Ambassador to Kabul in March 2015.

1. Trustee, Afghan Connect; Trustee, Turquoise Mountain Trust; and Director, Cheltenham Racecourse

Sir Richard Stagg sought the Committee’s advice about three appointments with Afghan Connect, Turquoise Mountain Trust and Cheltenham Racecourse.

The Committee noted that Sir Richard had had no official dealings with Cheltenham Racecourse while in post, and that the role would involve no contact with Government. In relation to the appointments with Afghan Connection and the Turquoise Mountain Trust, the Committee noted that he had had some contact with the organisations while in post in Afghanistan. However, this contact was part of the normal course of his duties as Ambassador and he did not have any involvement in contracts or policy that could affect the two organisations.

The Committee noted with concern that Sir Richard had initially started all three of these posts, as he stated that he had not realised they would require an application. However, on the advice of the FCO he ceased dealing with them pending advice from the Committee and the Foreign Secretary’s approval. The Committee reiterated that, at SMS3 level, all new appointments within two years of leaving office require an application under the business appointment rules.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that there was no reason why Sir Richard should not take up these appointments, subject to the conditions that:

• Sir Richard should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) privileged information available to him as a Crown servant; and
• For two years from his last day of service, Sir Richard should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Afghan Connection, Cheltenham Racecourse, or the Turquoise Mountain Trust. In the case of Afghan Connection and the Turquoise Mountain Trust, this lobbying ban need not prevent routine communications with Government, though Sir Richard should not involve himself in applications for grants or other direct assistance.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in December 2015.

2. Chairman of the Board, Rothschild (India)

Sir Richard Stagg sought the Committee’s permission to accept a part-time, paid role as Chairman of the Board of Rothschild (India) and Senior Advisor to the company.

The Committee took into account that Sir Richard had not had any contractual dealings with Rothschild during his last two years of service, and that he had not had any influence over policy affecting them or their competitors. Although he had met at least once with Rothschild staff during his time as British High Commissioner to India between 2007 and 2011, this had been over three years ago. As part of his appointment, there was a possibility that he would have occasional contact with the High Commission offices in India, but the two-year lobbying ban was sufficient to allay any concerns about the propriety of these contacts. In addition, the FCO had no reservations about the appointment.

The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s recommendation that the application be approved subject to the conditions that:

• for two years from his last day of service, Sir Richard should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new employer;

• for six months from his last day in post, he should not return to Afghanistan, the country of his last posting, for business purposes, give advice in matters relating to it, or have dealings with companies there;

• he should not draw on privileged information available to him as a Crown Servant.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in January 2015, and he took up the role in May 2015.