10 signatures reached
To: Government
Improve scrutiny of Government-private sector job mobility
Put in place much more rigorous measures to ensure government ministers and civil service are not taking advantage of their positions, to improve their employment prospects in the private sector, and likewise that corporate power is not used to influence government policy through over close relationships with ministers and civil servants.
Why is this important?
ACOBA (Advisory Committee On Business Appointments) seems essentially ineffective in scrutinising the appointment of ex ministers and civil servants into positions within big corporations. It is "advisory" only, therefore can be ignored. It rarely advises against any such appointment, and it is time limited in scope. These business appointments leave open the strong possibility that the appointees can use their knowledge of, and contacts within government to the corporations' advantage. Given the often very senior positions they have held within government, we can not be sure that the possibility of a future job does not affect their departmental decision-making, in favour of these corporations. This affects significant areas such as defence, health, social security and justice. It risks blurring the boundaries between private and public benefit. It reduces trust in government.
