CONDUCT OF THE RT HON MEMBER FOR SOUTH NORFOLK

That this House notes that on 20th July 1994 the Right honourable Member for South Norfolk left the Government, that, also on 20th July, Messrs Hill Samuel were appointed as advisers to the Vendor Unit of British Rail, to give advice on the disposal of major railway assets including infrastructure maintenance and the three freight companies, that the Right honourable Member for South Norfolk has been appointed, within three months of leaving the Government, as vice-chairman of Hill Samuel and that this puts him in the position of being paid by a company which is the direct beneficiary of the policies which he was responsible for implementing as Secretary of State for Transport; further notes that Messrs Hill Samuel are also advising the Government on the tenders for construction of the Channel Tunnel Link, which is now intended to involve the transfer of massive public assets to the private sector; and questions the ethical judgement involved in a former member of Her Majesty's Government slipping so quickly from office into a paid appointment with a private concern which has been so advantageously linked to the consequences of policies pursued by him as Secretary of State.