Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Ruth Owen

Published 26 July 2017

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/owen-ruth-director-general-of-customer-services-her-majestys-revenue-and-customs-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointments-applications-ruth-owen

Ruth Owen left her role as Director General of Customer Services at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in June 2017.

1. Partner, Advisory Services, EY Australia

Ruth Owen sought advice on taking up a role with EY Australia, in a full time, paid, capacity as Partner, Advisory Services. Ms Owen told the Committee the role will involve providing advisory services to public, not for profit and private sector organisations within Australia with a specific focus on Human Services (welfare/social services) and customer centric service transformation in Australia.

The Committee took into account that Ms Owen, and her former department (HMRC), confirmed she is not tax qualified and her focus whilst at HMRC was on customer services; she had no official dealings with EY UK or their competitors in the advisory or tax sector; and she was not involved in tax policy development.

The Committee also noted that she was a stakeholder for a contract that was awarded by HMRC to EY UK in 2014. However, HMRC confirmed she had no involvement in the procurement, selection or management of this contract and that EY UK is a separate entity to the company she wishes to join in Australia. Ms Owen also assured the Committee she had no contact or official dealings with EY Australia while in service.

The Committee also took into account that her new role will not involve contact with the UK Government. HMRC; and HMRC raised no concerns about Ms Owen taking up this appointment, subject to imposing the usual restriction on using privileged information and the ban on lobbying the UK government.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, this appointment be subject to the following conditions:

  • that she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time in Crown service;
  • for two years from her last day in service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of EY Australia its partners, or those it advises.
  • for two years from her last day in service she should not have any involvement with the UK tax affairs of any part of the worldwide partnership of EY itself, or the UK tax affairs of clients of any part of the worldwide partnership of EY.

The Committee provided its advice letter in April 2017 and Ms Owen took up the role in July 2017.

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