David Lammy's Foreign Office secondment scheme 'may be illegal'
The scheme is supposed to embed Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff in firms to gain commercial experience while inviting private-sector staff to take placements in government.
Concerns have been raised by environmental organisation The Corner House around alleged issues of compliance with human rights and other legal obligations.
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Solicitors firm Leigh Day has written to the FCDO warning that it may bring court proceedings on behalf of The Corner House.
A legal letter seen by the paper, addressed to Lammy, highlights an alleged lack of transparency as to how the scheme would operate, the potential for improper influence by Shell and BAE representatives on UK Government practices, and the potential for conflicts of interest.
It reportedly warns the scheme could be illegal and and in breach of the civil service code.
Nicholas Hildyard, the founder and director of The Corner House, said: 'This scheme cries out for judicial scrutiny. Seconding employees from powerful corporations to the Foreign Office or other ministries and vice versa is a recipe for potential serious conflicts of interest.
"Both Shell and BAE Systems have been accused of human rights violations in the past. This alone places them on a collision course with the government's stated commitment to upholding human rights and international law.'
It is understood that Shell disputes any claims of wrongdoing in the pre-action letter.
In a speech in March at the Chambers of Commerce, Lammy said the FCDO would have to undergo a 'sustained cultural transformation' to fully represent the interests of business.
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'Today I have written to the CEOs of some of the UK's largest firms offering to send diplomats on placements to each of them, building on existing examples of placements at firms like Barclays and Octopus Energy, and offering each of them the opportunity for members of their teams to spend time gaining experience in the FCDO,' he said.
In a letter obtained by a freedom of information request, Lammy said his ambassadors around the world had been tasked with helping 'our companies in landing contracts, overcoming market access barriers, and winning investment internationally'.
In June, Lammy was reported to have invited staff from Shell and BAE Systems into Whitehall diplomatic roles to help 'champion their interests overseas'.
An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are striking new partnerships with British businesses to harness their expertise, champion their interests overseas and drive growth for the British public.
'Part of the programme will see diplomats offered the opportunity to spend time working at some of the country's biggest firms in order to bolster their commercial knowledge and experience.
'Secondments between the civil service and the private sector are commonplace and the FCDO already sends staff on secondment to private companies, multilateral organisations and NGOs.'
BAE Systems and Shell have been approached for comment by The National.
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