Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Sir Peter Housden

Updated 19 July 2017

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Sir Peter Housden left his role as Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government, in June 2015.

1. Independent Consultancy

Sir Peter sought advice on establishing an independent consultancy to provide professional services in devolution, service integration, leadership and workforce development to governments, regional and local authorities, and voluntary organisations. Under this consultancy he initially wished to take up commissions with Deloitte and the Centre for Effective Services.

When considering this application the Committee noted the views of the Countersigning Officer and the Scottish Government, which had no concerns with him undertaking this work.

The First Minister accepted the Committee’s recommendation that there was no reason why Sir Peter should not establish this consultancy, subject to the conditions that:

  • for two years from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Scottish Government on behalf of any of his clients or those he advises;
  • he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which he is contracted) privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;
  • for 12 months from his last day of service he should not undertake any work as a consultant which involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the Scottish Government; and
  • for two years from his last day of service, before accepting any new commission he should make a case directly to the Committee to confirm that each individual commission he wishes to undertake would be permissible under the approved terms of the consultancy, including any from Deloitte. (If, after enquiry, the Committee takes the view that a commission is, or may be, outside the terms of the consultancy he will be expected to submit a fresh application).

In addition in this case, given Sir Peter’s previous senior roles in the UK Government and the level of his continuing interaction with the UK Government while at the Scottish Government, the Committee considers he should not front-up or take part in the initial stage of any negotiations or tendering process with the UK Government with a view to influencing a government decision with regard to the design or award of a contract.

The Committee provided its advice on this application in December 2015.

2. Commissions

Under his consultancy, providing professional services in devolution, service integration, leadership and workforce development to governments, regional and local authorities, and voluntary organisations - Sir Peter has taken up commissions with:

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