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Patricia Hewitt hosted dinner for BT before it made her a director
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor4 Feb 2010
Former Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt faced questions today over her use of parliamentary hospitality as it emerged she hosted receptions for a firm that later made her a director.
The former health secretary and trade and industry secretary used the Commons to host a breakfast and a dinner with BT in late 2008 and early 2009.
Months later she began work as a non-executive director with the company, earning £59,000 on top of her MPs' salary of £64,000. Ms Hewitt, who is also a paid adviser to Boots and a consultant to private health firm Cinven, hosted other events in the Commons.
In June 2008 she held a “Voice of Pharmacy Dinner”; last March she hosted a “Primary Care” dinner; and last July she held a “Healthcare in the Next Decade” lunch. Under Commons rules, no MP can use the Palace of Westminster for “direct or indirect” financial gain.
For the first time, the Commons has published a detailed list of every MP's “banqueting functions”.
David Cameron hosted an event for ITV in 2004, a few months after stopping work as a consultant to Carlton TV. Cabinet minister John Denham booked a Commons room for a breakfast for insurance group AXA in 2006. The next month he declared a “one-off consultancy” to advise on pensions. Many events hosted by MPs involved charities and schools, but scores invited firms and lobbyists. Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove hosted a “21-year celebration dinner” for accountants MSG in July last year. MSG donated £8,637 to Mr Gove's constituency assocation between July 2007 and November 2008.
Ms Hewitt said: “I regularly make bookings for many organisations, including businesses, voluntary organisations and charities. All such bookings are in accordance with parliamentary rules.”
