The latest cash-for-influence lobbying scandal has exposed the symbiotic relationship between New Labour and the corporate interests which profit from the privatisation of public services.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7069795.ece
Former Health Minister Patricia Hewitt MP listed five ways that a company could contact a minister including by funding think tanks and seminars, hospitality, sponsoring events in party conferences, contacting special advisers and finding a connection with the minister’s constituency.
When asked for examples of the type of consultancy work she had done previously, Hewitt spoke at length of her involvement with Partnerships in Care (PIC), a private mental service provider owned by Cinven. She claimed it was through her efforts that PIC was able to give evidence to the Bradley report, a government study about providing care outside prison for criminals with mental health problems.
The report had recommended the creation of a Home Office and Department of Health advisory group. Hewitt claims she paved the way for PIC to be the only contractor on the group. The following is Hewitt’s account, recorded in the meeting.
She said that Lord Bradley had been talking only to the public sector when producing his report into mental health services for criminals.
“So I was able to get them [PIC], basically, in front of Bradley, and I got Bradley to go and, actually I think he visited one of their establishments, he took evidence from them,” she said.
The Health and Criminal National Advisory Group was formed as a result of the report and Hewitt claimed: “I was able to persuade the chairman of that taskforce that there would be a private sector, independent sector, representative on that taskforce.”
Her client, PIC, became the representative on the advisory group as it was the “most active” private sector company in respect of the Bradley report. She continued:
Hewitt: I’ve kind of got them into the system where they can build the relationships, they can make the arguments.
Reporter: Yes, with a view to getting further contracts, presumably, and being able to expand their work?
Hewitt: Exactly
