Sir Patrick Vallance has taken up a new role advising the Singaporean government.
The former government chief scientific adviser, who stood down from his UK government role in the spring, has joined the National Research Foundation, a department within Singapore's Prime Minister's Office.
He will be a board member of the department’s Human Health and Potential International Advisory Council.
The move has been revealed in an advice letter from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which said Vallance must wait three months from his last day in the civil service to take up the position.
Vallance will advise the Singaporean government on major global health, biomedical sciences and on improvements in health and well-being for Singaporeans. The Cabinet Office told Acoba Vallance has “no access to information that would be of particular advantage to NRF”.
However, Acoba said there is “an inherent risk” from Vallance’s “influence and network of contacts he developed from his time in government”, which could be used to “assist NRF improperly”.
Vallance previously met with the chairman of NRF several times to share information about Covid and the Singaporean response but told the committee no decisions were taken as a result. “The risk this role could reasonably be perceived as a reward for decisions or actions in office is low,” Acoba said.
For two years, Vallance must not lobby the UK government or any of its public bodies on behalf of NRF nor use his contacts to unfairly advantage NRF, Acoba stated in its guidance letter. He must also not provide advice to NRF on contracts or bids for contracts related directly to the work of the the UK government.
Vallance told the committee he will have no contact with the UK government in the role.
The former chief scientific adviser played a key role in guiding the government during the Covid-19 pandemic and also became a household name, regularly appearing at the government’s televised Covid briefings.