Row as 'disgrace' Chris Huhne lands top energy job News of his job once again triggered a debate about the role of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA) which advises David Cameron on jobs for former ministers and top civil servants. Chaired by Lord Lang, the former Conservative cabinet minister, the eight-member body must be consulted if a minister or high-ranking civil servant intends to take up a post within two years of leaving government. Business Appointment Rules are in place in an attempt to stop conflict of interest and state that there should be "no cause for any suspicion of impropriety." They are also used to "counter suspicion" that "an employer could make improper use of official information to which a former minister has had access." Huhne was Liberal Democrat energy and climate change secretary from 2010 to 2012 and supervised two key government bills - one which set up a new energy-saving framework for Britain and another which reformed the electricity market with the aim of spurring investment in low-carbon technologies. The committee ruled that Huhne had "not been involved in the development of policy, award of grants or regulatory work that might have impacted on ZBE." It added that Huhne "was not aware of any contractual relationship between his former department and ZBE and had had no access to commercially sensitive information about any competitors." Last year, however, a report by MPs on the Public Administration Select Committee said ACoBA lacked adequate powers and resources, did not have "appropriate membership for its function" and should be abolished. The MPs said ACoBA had no statutory powers and could only advise on cases, and urged ministers to legislate for a system with "system of clear, statutory regulation, with enforceable penalties" and overseen by an independent ethics commissioner Priti Patel, the Conservative backbencher and current member of the Public Administration Select Committee, said Huhne was a "disgrace" and added: "This new jobs shows up flaws in the culture of politics that such individuals can swan into such roles." This was a "legitimate area" in which to ask the government to get directly involved, Miss Patel added. Nick de Bois, secretary of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, said: "I am all for offenders getting a second chance but this seems to be a second chance that is only available for the privileged offender and not the many. I am surprised that in such a sensitive policy area the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments ratified the appointment of a recent secretary of state. It begs the question: are the rules and restrictions in place sufficient enough to ensure politics is not bought into disrepute by the revolving door syndrome? ZBE's website says Huhne was appointed last month with the task of "growing the business in the European Union." Huhne and Pryce were both jailed for eight months in March for perverting the course of justice after he admitted passing his speeding points to her. They were both freed and later fitted with electronic tags after serving two months of their sentences. Pryce has subsequently been stripped of an honour - the Companion of the Order of the Bath - awarded to her in 2009 when she was a senior civil servant. The Cabinet Office has confirmed that the Queen has formally revoked the honour, given when she worked in the Whitehall ministry which is now BIS - the Department for Business Innovation and Skills - following her jail sentence. Since being released from HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire, Huhne has kept a low profile. He said at the time: "I would just like to say once again, as you know from the night I was sentenced, I said that I was very sorry for what I had done. It has been a humbling and sobering experience. I would like to thank all of those who have written to me - hundreds of letters that I have had - and all my family and friends who stood by me. And I would also just remind you that I have served only part of my sentence and therefore it is not appropriate to say more. I would now like to get on, get back to home, and continue with my life.