Call for Evidence

Following the Greensill saga, the Government asked the Committee to undertake post legislative scrutiny of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (“the Lobbying Act”) (HC Deb 14 April 2021, c331). To this end, the Committee welcomes written submissions on the Lobbying Act 2014, including:

• The definition and scope of activity covered by the Act; and
• Role and powers of Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.

The Lobbying Act 2014 is part of a wider web of regulations, codes and guidance that aim to ensure the propriety of the engagement between those in government with external bodies. To understand the effectiveness of the Lobbying Act 2014, it is important to understand how it operates in context. Committee is, therefore, also interested to hear about Government transparency disclosures and, in particular:

• Whether the current requirements are consistently complied with, including:
  • Whether the information disclosed is provides sufficient transparency surrounding Ministers’ and Officials’ external engagement;
  • Whether it is published in a sufficiently timely manner;
  • Whether engagement through virtual platforms is sufficiently transparent.

The deadline for written submissions is 17.00pm on 6 September 2023.

N.B Those who made relevant written submissions to the Committee’s inquiry into Propriety of Governance in Light of Greensill need not resubmit them though they are welcome to submit further evidence.