Decision

Advice letter: Paul Monks, Trustee, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Published 10 October 2025

1. BUSINESS APPOINTMENT APPLICATION: Professor Paul Monks CB, former Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Unpaid appointment with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.  

Professor Monks sought advice from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (the Committee) under the government’s Business Appointment Rules for Former Crown Servants (the Rules) on an unpaid role he wishes to take up with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) as a Trustee. 

The purpose of the Rules is to protect the integrity of the government. The Committee has considered the risks associated with the actions and decisions taken during the time that Professor Monks was in office, alongside the information and influence he may offer UKCEH. The material information taken into consideration by the Committee is set out in the annex.

The Committee’s advice is not an endorsement of the appointment – it imposes a number of conditions to mitigate the potential risks to the government associated with the appointment under the Rules.

The Rules^{[footnote 1]} set out that Crown servants must abide by the Committee’s advice. It is an applicant’s personal responsibility to manage the propriety of any appointment. Former Crown servants are expected to uphold the highest standards of propriety and act in accordance with the 7 Principles of Public Life. 

2. The Committee’s consideration of the risks presented

When considering this application, the Committee^{[footnote 2]} took into account that the appointment is unpaid^{[footnote 3]}. Generally, the Committee’s experience is that the risks related to unpaid roles are limited. The purpose of the Rules is to protect the integrity of the government by considering the real and perceived risks associated with former Crown servants joining outside organisations. Those risks include using privileged access to contacts and information to the benefit of themselves or those they represent. The Rules also seek to mitigate the risks that individuals may make decisions, or take action in office, in expectation of rewards on leaving government. These risks are significantly limited in unpaid cases due to the lack of financial gain to the individual.

As a former Chief Scientific Adviser, there is an overlap with the general area of work Professor Monks was involved in at Defra and this work. In office, he also met with the Chief Executive of UKCEH on a six-monthly basis as part of his engagement work with the wider scientific community.

Whilst there are risks associated with his access to information, privileged network of contacts and his potential influence within government, he made no decisions specific to the organisation in office and the Committee agreed with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero that the risks associated with this unpaid role are limited.

The Committee also noted that Professor Monk may have contact with government as a key stakeholder, but given the details provided, and confirmation from UKCEH this will not involve any lobbying of government - this would be in keeping with the lobbying ban that applies under government’s Rules.

3. The Committee’s advice

The Committee did not consider this unpaid appointment to raise any particular concerns under the government’s Business Appointment Rules. The standard conditions below sufficiently mitigate the inherent risks. These seek to prevent Professor Monks from making improper use of privileged information, contacts and influence to the unfair advantage of the organisation.

Therefore, in accordance with the government’s Business Appointment Rules, the Committee advises that this appointment with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology be subject to the following conditions:

• Professor Monks should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;

• for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK government or its arm’s length bodies on behalf of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients); nor should he make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in the government and/or Crown service to influence policy, secure business/funding or otherwise unfairly advantage the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients); and

• for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not undertake any work with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients) that involves providing advice on the terms of, or with regard to the subject matter of, a bid with, or contract, relating directly to the work of the UK government or its arm’s length bodies.

The advice and the conditions under the government’s Business Appointment Rules relate to your previous role in government only; they are separate from rules administered by other bodies such as the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Registrar of Lords’ Interests.^{[footnote 4]} It is an applicant’s personal responsibility to understand any other rules and regulations they may be subject to in parallel with this Committee’s advice.

By ‘privileged information’ we mean official information to which a minister or Crown servant has had access as a consequence of his or her office or employment and which has not been made publicly available. Applicants are also reminded that they may be subject to other duties of confidentiality, whether under the Official Secrets Act, the Ministerial Code/Civil Service Code or otherwise.

The Business Appointment Rules explain that the restriction on lobbying means that the former Crown servant ‘should not engage in communication with government (ministers, civil servants, including special advisers, and other relevant officials/public office holders) – wherever it takes place – with a view to influencing a government decision, policy or contract award/grant in relation to their own interests or the interests of the organisation by which they are employed, or to whom they are contracted or with which they hold office.’

Professor Monks must inform us as soon as he takes up this role, or if it is announced that he will do so, and we will publish this letter on our website. He must also inform us if he proposes to extend or otherwise change the nature of his role as, depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary for him to make a fresh application.

4. Annex – Material Information 

4.1 The role

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is an independent research organisation. It investigates environmental issues such as pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change, and extreme weather events. With a team of over 500+ scientists, UKCEH monitors, models, and analyses environmental interactions. Its research aims to provide data and insights for environmental solutions. Based across four UK sites in Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Wallingford, UKCEH has an annual income of around £55 million.

Professor Monks wishes to take up a part-time, unpaid role as a Trustee. In his role as a Trustee, Professor Monks will:

• provide advice, guidance, and challenge to the evolution of the charity’s strategy, plans and projects

• bring independence of judgement, the capacity to bring a fresh, external but constructive view to decision making

• play a full role as a charity Trustee, including attending Board meetings and other committee meetings, as needed

• commit to operating in a non-executive, rather than executive, function

• bring passion, interest and enthusiasm for the charity’s vision and values - helping it extend its influence and reach.

Other specific roles and responsibilities of the appointment include:

• Scientific strategy and vision:

• Contribute to the development of UKCEH’s scientific strategy, aligning it with its mission and long-term organisational objectives

• Provide insights and recommendations on emerging trends, methodologies, and technologies relevant to environmental research

• Advise on strategic interaction with key parts of the science community – including funders, academia and industry in the UK and internationally

• Providing oversight and assurance of policies related to scientific integrity and responsible research conduct.

• Scientific excellence and impact:

• Advocate for, and uphold, scientific excellence within UKCEH

• Provide advice on opportunities to increase the impact of scientific outputs and products, including through commercial or spin-out routes

• Support efforts to attract and retain top-tier scientific talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

• Collaboration and networking:

• Facilitate collaborations and partnerships with external scientific institutions, industry partners, and stakeholders

• Represent UKCEH at scientific events to enhance its visibility in the scientific community and promote its work.

• Communication and outreach:

• Assist in communicating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, including board members, stakeholders, and the public

• Support efforts to engage with the broader community and raise awareness of UKCEH’s scientific contributions.

4.2 Correspondence with UKCEH

UKCEH confirmed in writing that the organisation does not engage in lobbying activities and that this extends to this appointment as a Trustee.

4.3 Dealings in office 

Professor Monks stated that he did not make any policy, regulatory or commercial decisions specific to UKCEH, and that he did not have any access to information that could grant the organisation an unfair advantage.

Professor Monks noted that met with the Chief Executive of UKCEH on a six-monthly basis as part of his engagement work with the wider scientific community.

4.4 Departmental assessment 

DESNZ confirmed that Professor Monks did not make any policy, regulatory or commercial decisions specific to UKCEH, and that he did not have any access to information that could grant the organisation an unfair advantage.

DESNZ confirmed that Professor Monks met with the Chief Executive of UKCEH on a six-monthly basis as part of his engagement work with the wider scientific community.

DESNZ stated that UKCEH was formerly part of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by DSIT and UKCEH continues to receive funding from NERC and UKRI. NERC and DESNZ collaborate and co-fund several research projects. DESNZ also relies on NERC for advice on some scientific matters.

DESNZ recommended the standard conditions.  It added that it has committed to managing potential conflicts whilst he remains in office during his last weeks in post.   While the risk is limited, it will prevent his involvement in any discussions/matters that could give rise to any suggestion of unfair benefit to the organisation.

1. Which apply by virtue of the Civil Service Management Code, The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, The King’s Regulations and the Diplomatic Service Code. ↩

2. This application for advice was considered by Isabel Doverty; Hedley Finn OBE; Sarah de Gay; Dawid Konotey-Ahulu CBE DL; Michael Prescott; and The Baroness Thornton. ↩

3. By unpaid the Committee means that no remuneration of any kind is received for the role. Applicants must declare where it is agreed or anticipated they may receive remuneration or some other compensation at some stage in the future. ↩

4. All Peers and Members of Parliament are prevented from paid lobbying under the House of Commons Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Lords. Advice on obligations under the Code can be sought from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, in the case of MPs, or the Registrar of Lords’ Interests, in the case of peers. ↩