David Rowlands

The Sunday Telegraph has revealed that the Government has quashed attempts by BAA to hand a lucrative directorship to Sir David Rowlands, a former civil servant who played a key role in directing airport policy. Sir David, who spent four years as the permanent secretary of the Department for Transport before retiring last May, is understood to have been offered a role as non-executive director. Sources close to Downing Street said he had accepted the post in principle before the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments recommended against the move because of its political sensitivity.