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The independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments was set up by the then Prime Minister in 1975 to advise him on applications from the most senior Crown servants. The Committee advises the Foreign Secretary on applications from senior diplomats.

For two years after leaving their respective service, Crown servants must apply for permission to take up any outside appointment which meets the criteria set out in the business appointment rules.

A similar system to that for Crown servants was introduced for former Ministers in 1995. In their case the Committee gives its advice directly to the former Minister concerned.

The current members of the Advisory Committee are:  

• The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn KT GCMG PRSE (interim Chairman)
• The Rt Hon Lord Lang of Monkton DL 
• The Rt Hon Lord Macdonald of Tradeston CBE
• The Lord Dholakia OBE DL
• Dame Juliet Wheldon DCB QC 
• Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton GBE KCB FEng FIEE
• Sir Bryan Nicholson GBE

The secretariat is provided by the Cabinet Office, who sponsor the Advisory Committee as an advisory non-departmental public body.