Brian Brooke

Principal Policy Adviser, Room 3.4

Civil Service Commissioners
35 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BQ

12/08/09

Sent by email and post

Dear Mr Brooke,

Regarding Sir Kevin Tebbit and his employment since retirement

in November 2005

We are writing regarding the recent allegations surrounding Sir Kevin Tebbit the former
permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence and the employment he has undertaken
since leaving his post in November 2005.

In March 2005 when Sir Kevin was the permanent secretary the Defence Secretary at
the time Geoff Hoon issued a statement announcing the MOD's intention to let Augusta
Westland build the future Lynx fleet of army helicopters. The decision was also made
not to invite bids from other companies. Mr Hoon also said that 'other key partners'
would include Smith industries in Cheltenham. Sir Kevin left the MOD in November 2005
and the final contract agreeing the price was signed off by the Treasury in May 2006. A
month later in June 2006 Sir Kevin was signed up by the Smiths board. Then in May
2007 he was asked to be a chairman of Finmeccanica, the company which owns
AugustaWestland in July 2007.

From studying the Civil Service Management Code 4 (Conduct and Discipline), there
appears to be an issue of conflict of interest that has been breached. Referring to
section 4.3 Annex A: Rules on the Acceptance of Outside Appointments by Crown
Servants (Terms of Approval: section 16) although this says there is a minimum waiting
period of three months between leaving Crown employment due to the access to the
high policy areas that Permanent Secretaries have enjoyed before taking up an outside
post, the advisory committee does have the power to waiver the minimum waiting

T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : team@sunlight-cops.org.uk

Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN
A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.
period before taking up that appointment.

''If the Advisory Committee believes that the appointment is unsuitable, it may add that
advice to its recommendation that the application be subject to a waiting period of two
years, and that advice will be available for publication''

As Sir Kevin has previously held posts at both the MOD and GCHQ both defence related
posts we believe his appointment to Smith industries would been considered for the full
two year period. Another reason why we would expect the full two year period to be
considered would be the fact that Smith industries was one of the 'key partners' in the
future Lynx project which was announced in March 2005 and signed off in June 2006.
Surely a conflict of interests?

Can you confirm whether Sir Kevin followed the correct procedure when he left the Civil
Service? If you are unable to do this, when do you propose to begin an investigation?

We would be grateful for an acknowledgment of this letter by email or telephone and

thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Yours Sincerely

Christopher Galley
Centre for Open Politics
chris.galley@sunlight-cops.org.uk

T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : team@sunlight-cops.org.uk

Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN
A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness

T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : team@sunlight-cops.org.uk

Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN
A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.