§ Mr. RoyTo ask the Prime Minister if he has received the third report of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and if he will make a statement. [133247]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Committee has submitted its third report to me and I have today placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. Since 1975 the Committee has advised the Prime Minister of the day on the propriety of business appointments that Crown servants wish to take up when they leave the Crown service. Following a recommendation of the Committee on Standards in 683W Public Life, it now also provides advice directly to former Ministers on their business appointments. The Committee's third report provides an account of their work in 1999–2000.
The Committee has an important role, and I am very grateful to all the members for giving their time so freely to it.