HL Deb 22 July 2004 vol 664 c38WS
Baroness Amos

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has submitted its sixth report to the Prime Minister. The report provides an account of the work of the committee in advising the Prime Minister on business appointment applications from Crown servants on the acceptance of outside appointments after leaving government. The report covers the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2004. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

The Prime Minister is very grateful to all the committee members for giving their time so freely to it.

In addition, the Prime Minister has asked Sir Patrick Brown to undertake a review of the business appointment rules taking account of the work already done by the committee and referred to in its report. The rules were last reviewed in 1996. Since then there has been a greater emphasis on interchange with the private and other sectors. The review will have the following terms of reference:

To review the business appointment rules to ensure that they are compatible with a public service that is keen to encourage greater interchange with the private and other sectors, which is essential for effective delivery in today's public service. The review will consider the operation of the system, taking account of practice overseas. It will also consider the current machinery for dealing with applications and the necessary resources.