Ex Chief Former Military Chiefs Face Lobbying Ban Ex-military chiefs may be barred from contact with ministers and Ministry of Defence officials after several were secretly filmed claiming to be able to help secure deals for arms firms. At least one of the six top figures filmed by The Sunday Times was still subject to the two-year lobbying ban imposed on former military personnel leaving public service, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said. The rules state they cannot become involved in any activity which might be helped by their previous role for those two years. Reporters posed as representatives of arms firms and arranged meetings with former top military figures and recorded them offering their influence and contacts with ministers and in return for six-figure sums. Mr Hammond said any breaches of the lobbying rules would be investigated. Philip Hammond on The Andrew Marr Show Mr Hammond said an investigation will be launched He also said the revelations were "deeply damaging to the individuals concerned and their reputations" but insisted there was "no way that retired officers influence the way that military equipment is procured". Instead, he said those filmed were "rather bigging up their capabilities" and showing "bravado" to impress. But the rules appeared to have been broken and may need tougher enforcement, Mr Hammond said. "There are many, many reasons why it is sensible for the MoD to maintain contact with retired officers," he told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show <b>...</b> Related article