Powerbase - User contributions [en]

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T16:29:22Z

Andrew Gray:

The [[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]] describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

* [[Ian Lang]] (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
* [[Gus Macdonald]] (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
* [[Navnit Dholakia]] (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat deputy leader in the House of Lords.
* [[Juliet Wheldon]] (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
* [[Michael Walker]] (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
* [[Colin Budd]]
* [[Bryan Nicholson]]

The secretariat for the committee is provided by the [[Cabinet Office]], who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Foresight Communications

2010-02-12T16:16:59Z

Andrew Gray:

{{Template:Foodspin badge}}

{{Template:NuclearSpin}}
'''Foresight Communications''' is a London-based lobbying firm. [[Image:Foresight.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Foresight's office in London's Theatre-land]]

==Political connections==
For a small boutique agency, Foresight has numerous connections with the world of politics. <ref>[http://www.foresightcomms.co.uk/ Foresight Communications - 'People'], undated, accessed March 2006.</ref>
*[[Mark Adams]]. Foresight is run by [[Mark Adams]] OBE, who was a private secretary for parliamentary affairs at No. 10 for nearly four years. He also worked as private secretary to [[Tony Blair]] for six months after the 1997 election. <ref>[http://www.foresightcomms.co.uk/ Foresight Communications - 'About us' and 'People - Mark Adams'], undated, accessed March 2006.</ref>
Other members of Foresight's team include:
*[[Patrick Nicholls]], who was the Tory MP for Teignmouth for nearly a decade
*[[Sarah Pearce]], who worked in the Private Office of the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon [[Jack Straw]] MP
*[[Chris Savage]], who was head of industrial policy in the Economic Department of the [[Trades Union Congress]] where he worked closely with Labour Ministers and advisers.
*[[James Gray]], formerly of [[Transport for London]] where he worked on policy analysis and strategic development within the Procurement function.<ref>[http://www.foresight-consulting.co.uk/team/ Foresight website], accessed Feb 2009</ref>

===Employing ministers===
*[[Ivor Caplin]], a former defence minister, also works for Foresight.
The ''Sunday Times'' reported in June 2006:
:"A former defence minister has been criticised by a Whitehall vetting committee for accepting a job as a defence industry lobbyist without seeking official permission. [[Ivor Caplin]], who stood down at the last election, has taken lobbying jobs with two companies — Foresight Communications and [[MBDA Missile Systems]] — in breach of the ministerial code.

:Foresight, run by Mark Adams, Tony Blair’s former private secretary, represents the £20 billion Eurofighter jet project and MBDA is an American missile company.

:Former ministers are expected to inform Whitehall’s [[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]] before accepting such employment offers. Section 5.29 of the ministerial code states: “On leaving office, ministers should seek advice from the . . . committee . . . about any appointments they wish to take up within two years of leaving office.”

:The committee has criticised Caplin for accepting the appointments without seeking its advice... The committee, which was set up by [[John Major]], the former Tory prime minister, and is now chaired by [[Lord Mayhew]], has now demanded that Caplin does not “become personally involved in lobbying ministers or officials for 12 months”. <ref>Robert Winnet, [http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2770 Ex-minister ignored rule and took job as lobbyist] The Sunday Times, 4 June 2006.</ref>

===Former staff===
*[[Jenny Ungless]], the ex-Chief of Staff to [[Iain Duncan Smith]]

==Launching front groups==
In 2001, Foresight helped launch the corporate front group the [[Scientific Alliance]] with Robert Durward.<ref>Gethin Chamberlain, "[http://www.news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?id=83662003&tid=733 The rich recluse masterminding Britain's new party]". ''The Scotsman'', 22 January 2003.</ref> The original contact for the Alliance is [[Robert Durward]] who is also the director of Foresight client the [[British Aggregates Association]] (BAA). <ref>[http://www.foresightcomms.co.uk/ Foresight Communications - 'Clients'], undated, accessed March 2006.</ref> <ref>Andrew Rowell, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4218957,00.html 'Hard rockers'], ''The Guardian'', 11 July 2001.</ref>

Foresight's other clients include the [[New Party for Britain]] (also known as the [[People's Alliance]]). The New Party is so right-wing that the Tory leader in Scotland, where it operates, called it 'fascist and undemocratic'. Like the [[Scientific Alliance]], this 'People's Alliance', was established by Durward and Adams.

===Scientific Alliance===
The [[Scientific Alliance]] is anti-environmental, anti-organic and pro-GM. It is also pro-nuclear and dismisses climate change. <ref>Hamish Macdonell, [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=43412003 'Mystery party to contest elections'], ''The Scotsman'', 13 January 2003.
</ref> <ref>Ollie Stone-Lee, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2848523.stm 'New party pledges direct democracy'], BBC News website, 14 March 2003.</ref>

It runs conferences along with other corporate front groups. In November 2002 it organised a conference on GM called Fields of the Future. The conference chairman was Lord [[Dick Taverne]] of the front organisation [[Sense about Science]], and [[Tracey Brown]] of Sense about Science helped to find speakers for the event. This is yet another corporate front organisation.

====Pro nuclear activities====
Foresight counts the [[Nuclear Industry Association]] as a client. And at the 2004 Labour Party Conference the [[Scientific Alliance]] held a pro-nuclear meeting with the [[Nuclear Industry Association]]. <ref>K. Parker [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/7/73/Nuc57.pdf Email Re: ''Agreement with Scientific Alliance'' (pdf)], 28 July 2004.</ref>

====Advisory board====
The Scientific Alliance's Advisory Board includes:
*pro-biotech scientists such as [[Anthony Trewavas]]
*ex-living Marxists [[Bill Durodie]] of King's College London
*[[Martin Livermore]], Independent Science Communications Advisor and ex-[[Du Pont]]. He is also a Fellow of the [[International Policy Network]].
*Professor [[Vivian Moses]], head of pro-biotech organisation [[Cropgen]] (Cropgen's lobbying firm is [[Lexington Communications]]).
*Professor [[Michael Wilson]], Horticulture Research International - advisor to [[Lord Sainsbury]]'s company [[Diatech]].
Both Wilson and Moses are part of [[Sense About Science]]
*and one of the world's leading climate sceptics - [[Sallie Baliunas]]. Baliunas is a [[George C Marshall Institute]] Senior Scientist, but also has been or is associated with [[Global Climate Coalition]], the right-wing [[Hoover Institution]], [[ESEF]], [[Annapolis Center]], and the [[American Enterprise Institute]]. Also the Wise Use group the [[Committee for A Constructive Tomorrow]] and [[Tech Central Station]].<ref>[http://www.scientific-alliance.org/about_us_advisory_forum.htm Scientific Alliance advisory board], undated, accessed March 2006.</ref>

==Clients==
Lobbying clients of Foresight listed in 2009:<ref>[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.ourclients.register_home/ APPC register], to Nov 2008</ref>
[[BT]] | [[CSC]] | [[EADS]] | [[Elliott Advisors]] | [[Healthcare 360]] | [[IIDC]] | [[Macquarie Airports]] | [[Nuclear Industry Association]] | [[Parsons Brinckerhoff]] | [[Spirit Aerosystems]] | [[Stringfellow Restaurants]] | [[Summerleaze]] | [[World Economy and Finance Programme]] | [[Zed Homes]].

===Previous clients===
Past clients include:<ref>[http://www.foresightcomms.co.uk/ Foresight Communications - 'Clients'], undated, accessed March 2006.</ref>
[[Association of British Insurers]] | [[Beatbullying]] | [[British Aggregates Association]] | [[Business Services Association]] | [[Cheetah Medical Inc]] | [[Citizen Communication]] | [[East England Arts]] | [[EcoGen Developments]] | [[EDS]] | [[Elmo-Tech]] | [[Energis]] | [[Lufthansa Technik]] | [[New Party for Britain]] / [[People's Alliance]] | [[Nord Anglia]] | [[Perfiliate Technologies]] | [[Scientific Alliance]] | [[Sodexho]] | [[Summerleaze]] | [[Thames Water]] | [[Unimatic Engineers]] | [[EADS]]

==Contacts==
130 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London,
W1D 5 EU<br>
http://www.foresight-consulting.co.uk

==External Resources==
*[[Foresight Communications UK Staff and clients 30.11.03-31.05.04]]
*[[Foresight Communications UK Staff and clients 01.06.05-30.11.05]]
*[[Foresight Communications UK Staff and clients, 1 June 2005 to 30 Nov 2005]]
*[[Foresight Communications UK Staff and clients, Sep 2007 to Nov 2007]]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/wiki.phtml?title=Foresight_Communications Sourcewatch entry Foresight Communications]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Nuclear Spin]]
[[Category: Pro-nuclear companies]]
[[Category:Lobbying firms]]
[[Category:Food lobbyists and PR consultants]]
[[Category:Food Industry lobby groups]]
[[Category:Nuclear PR, lobbying and consultancy firms]][[Category:GM]]

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T16:12:43Z

Andrew Gray:

The [[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]] describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

* [[Ian Lang]] (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
* [[Gus Macdonald]] (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
* [[Navnit Dholakia]] (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
* [[Juliet Wheldon]] (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
* [[Michael Walker]] (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
* [[Colin Budd]]
* [[Bryan Nicholson]]

The secretariat for the committee is provided by the [[Cabinet Office]], who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T16:08:43Z

Andrew Gray:

The [[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]] describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

* [[Ian Lang]] (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
* [[Gus Macdonald]] (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
* [[Navnit Dholakia]] (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
* [[Juliet Wheldon]] (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
* [[Michael Walker]] (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
* [[Colin Budd]]
* [[Bryan Nicholson]]

The secretariat is provided by the [[Cabinet Office]], who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

ACOBA

2010-02-12T16:06:20Z

Andrew Gray: Redirecting to Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

#redirect[[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]]

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T16:00:58Z

Andrew Gray:

The [[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]] describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

* [[Ian Lang]] (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
* [[Gus Macdonald]] (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
* [[Navnit Dholakia]] (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
* [[Juliet Wheldon]] (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
* [[Michael Walker]] (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
* [[Colin Budd]]
* [[Bryan Nicholson]]

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T15:57:16Z

Andrew Gray:

The [[Advisory Committee on Business Appointments]] describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

* Ian Lang (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
* Gus Macdonald (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
* Navnit Dholakia (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
* Juliet Wheldon (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
* Michael Walker (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
* Sir Colin Budd
* Sir Bryan Nicholson

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T15:56:08Z

Andrew Gray:

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

* Ian Lang (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
* Gus Macdonald (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
* Navnit Dholakia (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
* Juliet Wheldon (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
* Michael Walker (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
* Sir Colin Budd
* Sir Bryan Nicholson

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T15:53:33Z

Andrew Gray:

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

Ian Lang (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
Gus Macdonald (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
Navnit Dholakia (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
Juliet Wheldon (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
Michael Walker (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
Sir Colin Budd
Sir Bryan Nicholson

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T13:14:13Z

Andrew Gray:

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

Ian Lang (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
Gus Macdonald (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
Navnit Dholakia (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
Juliet Wheldon (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
Michael Walker (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
Sir Colin Budd
Sir Bryan Nicholson

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T13:13:59Z

Andrew Gray:

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested, on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments within 2 years of leaving Crown service." <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Home Page [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/ Advisory Committee on Business Appointments], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==History==
The committee was set up in 1975 to advise the prime minister on applications by the most senior Crown Servants to take up appointments outside government. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

=Personnel==
The current members of the committee are:

Ian Lang (Lord Lang of Monkton), Conservative former Scottish Secretary and former Member of Parliament. (Committee Chairman.)
Gus Macdonald (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston). Labour former minister and former MP.
Navnit Dholakia (Lord Dholakia), Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords.
Juliet Wheldon (Dame Juliet Wheldon)
Michael Walker (General The Lord Walker of Aldringham)
Sir Colin Budd
Sir Bryan Nicholson

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body. <ref>Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: About Us [http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/about_us.aspx], accessed 12/02/2010</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T12:27:37Z

Andrew Gray:

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T12:19:17Z

Andrew Gray:

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T12:18:37Z

Andrew Gray:

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

2010-02-12T12:18:03Z

Andrew Gray: New page: The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments describes itself as "an independent body which provides advice to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, or other Ministers if requested...