Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Mark Simmonds

Updated 7 June 2016

Mark Simmonds left his role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in August 2014.

1. Vice President and Trustee, British Institute in Eastern Africa

Mr Simmonds sought advice about an unpaid role with the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA), providing advice relating to research activities in the fields of archaeology, sociology and anthropology. When considering this application the Committee took into account Mr Simmonds’s statement that he had no contact with the organisation or its competitors during his last two years in ministerial office, and had no access to commercially sensitive information about them. They further noted that this role would not involve contact with FCO or with Government more generally.

The Committee took into account the fact that a gap of nearly 21 months had already occurred since leaving ministerial office, and that FCO had no concerns about this role.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it could see no reason why he should not take up this role, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons 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 BIEA, its parent company, subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in May 2016 and the appointment was taken up later that month.

2. Strategic Adviser, Farallon Capital

Mr Simmonds sought advice on a part time role as a Strategic Adviser to Farallon Capital, providing strategic economic, financial and political advice to the organisation.

When considering this application the Committee took into account Mr Simmonds’s statement that he had no contact with the organisation or its competitors during his last two years in ministerial office, and had no access to commercially sensitive information about them. They further noted that this role would not involve contact with FCO or with Government more generally.

The Committee took into account the fact that a gap of nearly 21 months had already occurred since leaving ministerial office and that FCO had no concerns about this role.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it could see no reason why he should not take up this role, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons 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 Farallon Capital, its parent company, subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in May 2016 and the appointment was taken up later that month.

3. Adviser, Bechtel

Mr Simmonds sought advice about a part-time, paid appointment with Bechtel, a global engineering, construction and project management company.

When considering this application, the Committee took into account that in his last two years in office, Mr Simmonds did meet Bechtel, as the company wanted to explain what its activities were around the world and to see how best it could use its UK-based expertise in developing markets. However, they also noted that Mr Simmonds was not involved in any departmental policy, the award of grants or regulatory work affecting Bechtel, and that the FCO had no concerns with this appointment.

The Committee also took into account that it is now over 14 months since Mr Simmonds left ministerial office.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time 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 Bechtel, its subsidiaries, partners or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in November 2015 and the appointment was taken up in December 2015.

4. Honorary Vice President, Fauna and Flora International

Mr Simmonds sought advice about accepting an unpaid appointment as an Honorary Vice President of Fauna and Flora International (FFI), a conservation organisation.

The Committee took into account that Mr Simmonds did not have any official dealings with FFI during his last two years in office, and that he was unaware of any relationship between them and his former Department.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time 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 FFI or its partner organisations.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in November 2015 and he took up the role in December 2015.

5. Non Executive Director, African Potash

Mr Simmonds sought advice about accepting a part time role as a Non Executive Director for African Potash.

The Committee noted that Mr Simmonds did not have any contact with African Potash while in office and that his new role would not require him to lobby government.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time 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 African Potash or any of its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in October 2015 and he took up the role in November 2015.

6. Senior Strategic Adviser, International Hospitals Group

Mr Simmonds sought advice on accepting a role as Senior Strategic Adviser to the International Hospitals Group, an international healthcare services company, involved in the construction of hospitals around the world and the provision of healthcare.

The Committee noted that Mr Simmonds did have some contact with IHG while in ministerial office, as he met them in order to gain a greater understanding of the skills that organisation has in delivering healthcare abroad. However, he was not involved in policy development, the award of grants, or any regulatory work that could have affected the organisation. Nor did he have official dealings with any competitors of his prospective employer.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; 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 IHG, its parent company or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds In March 2015 and he took up the role in April 2015.

7. Managing Director, Kroll

Mr Simmonds sought to accept a role as Managing Director of Kroll, a global provider of risk solutions.

The Committee noted that this role would be to provide strategy for cross border business intelligence and asset recovery. They took into account that Mr Simmonds had had no official dealings with Kroll or its competitors while in ministerial office.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; 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 Kroll, its parent company or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in April 2015 and he took up the role later that month.

Baroness Liddell recused herself due to a conflict of interest.

8. Chief Operating Officer, Counter Extremism Project

Mr Simmonds sought to take up a part-time, paid appointment as CEO of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), an international policy organisation set up to counter the extremism narrative.

When considering the application, the Committee noted that Mr Simmonds had had no official dealings with the CEP whilst in ministerial office, and that his former department had no concerns about the appointment. In addition, the nature of the CEP’s work meant that it was likely that he would engage in communication with Government. However, having due regard for the lobbying ban would not prevent communications with Government on matters that are an integral part of the normal course of business of the CEP.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government;

• 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 Simmonds in February 2015 and he took up the role in March 2015.

9. Chairman of the Advisory Board, Invest Africa

Mr Simmonds sought advice on accepting a role as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Invest Africa.

The Committee took into account that Mr Simmonds met with Invest Africa once while in ministerial office, in order to understand their work. However, he had no involvement in departmental policy that could affect them, the award of any grants relating to them, and no involvement in regulatory work that would impact on them.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; and

• for two years from his last day in office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including special advisers, on behalf of his new employer, its parent company or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in November 2014 and he took up the role later that month.

10. Strategic Adviser, First

Mr Simmonds sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a position as a Strategic Adviser for FIRST, an international affairs organisation.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that Mr Simmonds had some dealings with FIRST while in ministerial office, but that he was not involved in policy development, the award of grants or any regulatory work that could have affected the organisation. Furthermore, Mr Simmonds had not had official dealings with any competitors of his prospective employer.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; and

• for two years from his last day in office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including special advisers, on behalf of his new employer or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in October 2014 and he took up the role in November 2014.

11. Non Executive Deputy Chairman, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council

Mr Simmonds sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a position as Non Executive Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).

When considering the application, the Committee noted that: the role will involve chairing conferences and promoting trade; Mr Simmonds had no dealings with CWEIC in its current format while in ministerial office; and that he had not been involved in regulatory work, the award of grants, or policy development that could have affected CWEIC.

The Committee advised Mr Simmonds that it saw no reason why he should not take up the appointment, subject to the conditions that:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; and

• for two years from his last day in office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including special advisers, on behalf of his new employer or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in October 2014 and he took up the role later that month.

12. CEO, Mortlock Simmonds Ltd

Mr Simmonds asked for the Committee’s advice on accepting an unpaid appointment as CEO of Mortlock Simmonds Ltd, a family investment company set up by Mr Simmonds prior to his entering Parliament. The company’s main activity is investment in commercial property.

When considering the application, the Committee noted that: this is an unpaid role, at least for now; it is Mr Simmonds’ company, and he acted as its Chairman before becoming a Minister; and the main activities of the company are unrelated to his former responsibilities as a Minister.

The Committee sees no reason why Mr Simmonds should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Government; and

• for two years from his last day in office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including Special Advisers, on behalf of his new employer.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Simmonds in September 2014 and he took up the role in October 2014.