Are the Government’s lobbying rules tight enough?
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) will question the outgoing Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists for the last seven years, Harry Rich.
Meeting details
The Registrar is an office created by the Lobbying Act 2014 to maintain the Register of Consultant Lobbyists. Under the Act, those who are hired to communicate with either ministers or permanent secretaries in an attempt to influence Government policy must declare in the Register who they are acting on behalf of.
The Register supplements the Government’s regular disclosures of ministers’ and permanent secretaries’ meeting, gifts and hospitality.
The Committee will question Mr Rich on his experience in the role as well as whether he feels the Lobbying Act and the role of Registrar are sufficient to ensure that the lobbying of government is adequately regulated and transparent.
Mr Rich may also be questioned on how the office of Registrar fits into the wider standards landscape. Recent government proposals to replace the Committee on Standards in Public Life with a new Ethics and Integrity Commission are also likely to be discussed.