Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists

Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists
Author: Great Britain: Cabinet Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2012-01-20
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780101823326

The Government is committed to introducing a statutory register of lobbyists. The aim is to increase the information available about lobbyists without unduly restricting lobbyists' freedom and ability to represent the views of the businesses, groups, charities and other individuals and organisations they represent or to deter members of the public from getting involved in policy making. This consultation paper asks a number of specific questions whose answers will help inform the drafting of the legislation that will be brought in. The key questions are: on the definition of lobbying and lobbyists; who should or should not be required to register; what information should be provided in the register; how often should the register be updated; what sanctions might be appropriate; who should run the register? An annex includes background information, jncluding reference to the Public Administration Select Committee report on lobbying (1st report session 2008-09, HC 36-I, ISBN 9780215525598), the Government response (PASC 8th special report, HC 1058, ISBN 9780215541499), and details of other jurisdictions' approaches to lobbying regulation. (PASC also did a follow-up on developments since its earlier inquiry: 5th report of session 2009-10 (HC 108, ISBN 9780215542649) to which the Government responded (3rd special report, HC 393, ISBN 9780215544421)).

Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists

Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 182
Release: 2012-07-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780215046826

The proposals in the Government's consultation paper, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists (Cm 8233, ISBN 9780101823326), focused the register on those who undertake lobbying activities on behalf of a third party client. Under the proposals, a lobbyist who worked in house for a large company such as News International would not be required to register, whereas a 'one-man band' lobbyist would be, and have to name their clients, and pay for the privilege. There is no evidence to suggest that third party lobbyists are a particular problem within the lobbying community; the Government's own records of ministerial meetings suggest that third party lobbyists make up less than 1% of all meetings with Ministers. The Government should abandon its plans and introduce regulation to cover all those who lobby professionally, in a paid role, including those who lobby on behalf of charities, trade unions, and think tanks. The Committee specifically recommends the Government: publish information about ministerial meetings no more than a month after the month in which the meeting occurred; improve the level of detail in meeting disclosures, so that the actual topic of a meeting is disclosed, rather than obscure terms like 'general discussion'; publish, where applicable, the company or charity number of any organisation that meets with Ministers or officials, so that the identity of the organisation can be properly verified; standardise the format of meeting data, with a view to publishing all ministerial and official meetings on one website, rather than on many different Government websites.

Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists

Introducing a statutory register of lobbyists
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 182
Release: 2012-07-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780215046826

The proposals in the Government's consultation paper, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists (Cm 8233, ISBN 9780101823326), focused the register on those who undertake lobbying activities on behalf of a third party client. Under the proposals, a lobbyist who worked in house for a large company such as News International would not be required to register, whereas a 'one-man band' lobbyist would be, and have to name their clients, and pay for the privilege. There is no evidence to suggest that third party lobbyists are a particular problem within the lobbying community; the Government's own records of ministerial meetings suggest that third party lobbyists make up less than 1% of all meetings with Ministers. The Government should abandon its plans and introduce regulation to cover all those who lobby professionally, in a paid role, including those who lobby on behalf of charities, trade unions, and think tanks. The Committee specifically recommends the Government: publish information about ministerial meetings no more than a month after the month in which the meeting occurred; improve the level of detail in meeting disclosures, so that the actual topic of a meeting is disclosed, rather than obscure terms like 'general discussion'; publish, where applicable, the company or charity number of any organisation that meets with Ministers or officials, so that the identity of the organisation can be properly verified; standardise the format of meeting data, with a view to publishing all ministerial and official meetings on one website, rather than on many different Government websites.

Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists

Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher:
Total Pages: 10
Release: 2013-07-19
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780215061010

This report criticises that Government for the delay in responding to its July 2012 report on lobbying and for failing to provide an opportunity for the lobbying Bill to be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government took over a year and then gave a response that is a page and a half long and does not engage with any of the detailed points made in the original report.

HC 1128 - The Work of the Committee in the 2010 Parliament

HC 1128 - The Work of the Committee in the 2010 Parliament
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 33
Release: 2015
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0215085817

The Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee was established in June 2010 to consider political and constitutional reform. Over the last five years the Committee has scrutinised the Government's substantial programme of political and constitutional reform - which included fixing the term of a Parliament, bringing forward proposals for recalling MPs, establishing a register of third party lobbyists and implementing Individual Electoral Registration. The establishment of a dedicated select committee to consider these matters has brought additional parliamentary scrutiny to a substantial part of the Government's programme. Should the next Government plan to take forward constitutional reform, a select committee be established to examine the Government's proposals, to keep the progress of any political and constitutional reform under regular review, and to continue the work this Committee has undertaken. The Committee has also highlighted the extent to which it has engaged the public with it's work through consultations and increased use of social media, online surveys and informal events. This public engagement is one of it's greatest innovations, and something which it encourages other committees to adopt in the future

Regulating lobbying

Regulating lobbying
Author: Raj Chari
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2019-02-28
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1526117266

Governments worldwide are developing sunshine policies that increase transparency in politics, where a key initiative is regulating lobbyists. Building on the pioneering first edition, this book updates its examination of all jurisdictions with regulations, from the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Unlike any book, it offers unique insights into how the regulations compare and contrast against each other, offering a revamped theoretical classification of different regulatory environments and situating each political system therein. This edition innovatively considers different measurements to capture the robustness of lobbying laws in terms of promoting transparency and accountability. And, based on the authors’ experience of advising governments globally, it closes with a no-nonsense guide on how to make a lobbying law. This is of value to policymakers seeking to introduce or amend regulations, and lobbyists seeking to influence this process.

House of Commons - Political and Constitutional Reform Committee: The Government's Lobbying Bill - Volume I: HC 601-I

House of Commons - Political and Constitutional Reform Committee: The Government's Lobbying Bill - Volume I: HC 601-I
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2013-09-19
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780215062352

The Committee supports the aims of increasing transparency in lobbying and effectively and fairly regulating third-party campaigning, but finds that the Government's bill is seriously flawed, because of inadequate consultation and a lack of pre-legislative scrutiny. Moreover, the definition of "consultant lobbying" is so narrow that not only would it exclude in-house lobbyists, which was the Government's intention, but it would also exclude the vast majority of third-party lobbyists and particularly the larger organisations. Many companies undertake lobbying as part of a wider communications and public relations business, and they spend very little of their time meeting directly with Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, meaning they could argue they were exempt from registering. The register should be expanded to include in-house lobbyists, and to cover the provision of advice on lobbying, as well as direct contact with Ministers and Permanent Secretaries. Special Advisers and Senior Civil Servants should be included in the list of people with whom contact counts as lobbying. Part 2 of the Bill, on non-party campaigning, and particularly the definition of spending "for electoral purposes" is confusing. The Committee urges the Government temporarily to withdraw the Bill and support a motion in the House to set up a special committee to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny, using the text of the existing Bill as a draft. The special committee should be charged with producing an improved Bill within six months.

Sessional Returns

Sessional Returns
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 442
Release: 2012-09-14
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780215048387

On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees