A
BILL
TO
Establish a public register of organisations that carry out lobbying of
Parliament for commercial gain; to make provision for disclosure of
expenditure by such organisations; and for connected purposes.
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
In section 2 of the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978, after
subsection (3) insert—
“(3A) The Commission shall—
(a)
5ensure that a register of all organisations having as their sole,
major or subsidiary aim the lobbying of Parliament for
commercial gain, is drawn up and placed in the House of
Commons Library;
(b)
ensure that the register is reviewed every three months and that
10such alterations as are made are attached to the register placed
in the House of Commons Library;
(c)
require each registered organisation to provide a list of
meetings arranged on behalf of clients with Members of
Parliament and Government Ministers, fees paid to Members of
15Parliament by registered organisations and a statement of such
expenses paid on behalf of clients every three months. Such
information shall be included in the register; and
(d)
have power to remove from the register any organisation failing
to provide such information or for any breach of guidelines
20issued under subsection (3B) below.
(3B)
The Commission may from time to time issue guidelines for registered
organisations.”
Registration of Commercial Lobbying Interests BillPage 2
(1)
This Act may be cited as the Registration of Commercial Lobbying Interests Act
2012.
(2)
This Act shall come into force at the end of a period of one month beginning on
5the day on which it is passed.
(3) This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.