Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - John Whittingdale

Updated 11 April 2022

John Whittingdale left his role as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in July 2016.

1. Consultant, the Authors Licensing & Collecting Society

Mr Whittingdale sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with the Authors Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS). The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society is a not-for-profit membership organisation. It collects royalties for writers across the UK and campaigns to ensure that writers’ rights are recognised.

The Committee noted that he wished to work with ALCS as a consultant; a paid role with a time commitment of around 8 days a year. As a consultant to ALCS he will provide advice on policy issues and legislative proposals affecting authors and writers.

The Committee took into consideration that Mr Whittingdale has a long-standing interest in the sector and previously worked with ALCS between 2010-2015 (whilst Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Writers group, which is sponsored by ALCS). The Committee also noted that the role may cover areas of policy for which he had responsibility in Government and that it is likely to involve contact with his former department. However, Mr Whittingdale said he would not be required to lobby Government in this role, and that he will only offer advice on policy in a general sense.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed to the Committee that it have an active relationship with ALCS, in relation to the Public Lending Right (PLR), which is a statutory scheme funded by Government and managed by the British Library. (Through this scheme authors have the right to receive payment from the fund for the lending of books by public libraries in the UK.) DCMS consults with ALCS, and other representatives of authors and libraries, to confirm the technical adjustment of the rate depending on how many total loans have been made each year. DCMS also confirmed this change would have been signed off by the Minister for Culture.

The Committee took into account that DCMS had no concerns about the appointment; and that 8 months had passed since he left Ministerial office.

In accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the Committee advised 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 from his time in Ministerial office;
• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy on behalf of the Authors Licensing & Collecting Society or its members; and
• he should not involve himself in the work, or discussions with Government around, Public Lending Right Payments.

The Committee’s advice letter was sent in March 2017 and Mr Whittingdale took up the post the following month.

Baroness (Helen) Liddell and John Wood recused themselves from this application.

John Whittingdale left his role as Secretary of State State for Culture, Media and Sport in July 2016.

2. Advisory Board Member, SWNS Media Group

Mr Whittingdale sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with SWNS Media Group, as a member of their advisory board in a paid, part time capacity (with a time commitment of around 1 day per month).

SWNS Media Group is an independent news and content provider. The group is comprised of an international press agency, market research company, content creation agency and design studio.

When considering this application, the Committee also noted that Mr Whittingdale said he would advise on developments in the newspaper, audio-visual and online media sectors; in particular, on business development and regulatory issues.

The Committee consulted with DCMS who confirmed that Mr Whittingdale had no contact with SWNS while in office. However, the Committee also noted that this appointment is related to the area for which he had responsibility as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. With regard to this in particular, the Committee took into account the following factors: DCMS confirmed he had no access to any sensitive information which might provide an unfair advantage to SWNS; he told the Committee this role is unlikely to involve contact with Government; almost nine months has passed since his last day in Ministerial Office; and DCMS had no concerns about this appointment.

In accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the Committee advises 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 from his time in Ministerial office;
• for two years from his last day in Ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy on behalf of SWNS Media Group.

The Committee’s advice letter was sent in April 2017 and Mr Whittingdale took up the post later that month.

3. Consultant, Federation of International Polo

Mr Whittingdale sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a paid and part-time appointment with the Federation for International Polo (FIP) as a Consultant.

The FIP is the worldwide governing body of Polo and represents the national polo associations of more than 80 countries. It organises several tournaments each year, including the FIP World Polo Championship and the Super Nations Cup.

Mr Whittingdale stated his role will be to advise on possible legislation and other Government policy developments as they affect the sport of Polo in the UK and internationally; advise on how best to ensure that the interests of the sport are taken into account by the Departments; and to help arrange for relevant Ministers and officials to receive briefings.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Mr Whittingdale stated that the legislation of concern to Polo relates to the change in the visa requirements which were introduced in autumn 2016 and the future arrangement for visas. He confirmed that he does not intend to lobby on behalf of the sport but will advise those involved on how to best present their cases and to whom.

The Committee noted DCMS confirmed it is not aware of Mr Whittingdale having any access to sensitive information about unannounced policy or sensitive information, and that it is not aware of him having worked with the Home Office on immigration policy changes specific to polo or funding decisions that would affect the FIP whilst he was in office. The Department rasied no concerns about this appointment.

In accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the Committee advised 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 from his time in Ministerial office; and
• for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Federation for International Polo, its partners or subsidiaries, or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government/Whitehall to influence policy or secure funding on behalf of the Federation for International Polo, its partners or subsidiaries.

The Committee’s advice letter was sent in September 2017.