Summary of business appointments applications - Lesley Thomson
Published 8 August 2017
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Dr Lesley Thomson left her role as Solicitor General for the Scottish Government in June 2016
1. Lay Governor, Glasgow Caledonian University
When considering this application, the Committee noted that this role is unpaid; that Dr Thomson did not have official dealings with the University or its competitors whilst in office; and that she has no commercially sensitive information that could benefit it.
The Committee also noted that the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government saw no conflict of interest in relation in Dr Thomson taking up this post and would not expect that she would have any direct role in engaging with or lobbying Government on funding issues.
The Committee advised that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the appointment be subject to the following conditions:
- 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 Ministerial office;
- for two years from her last day in service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the Scottish Government on behalf of Glasgow Caledonian University or its students, or make use, directly or indirectly, of her contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure funding on behalf of Glasgow Caledonian University or its students.
The Committee’s advice letter was sent in July 2017, and the commission was taken up the following month.