Public Administration Committee - First Report
Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall

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Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 9 December 2009.

Contents

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Terms of Reference

Summary

1  Introduction

Why this inquiry?  

Scope

Conduct of the inquiry

2  What is the problem?

Opinions among our witnesses

Regulation as a tool for investigation

Links between access and influence

The power of personal contacts

The need for even-handedness when encouraging wider engagement in policy-making

The likely limits to lobbyists' commitment to transparency

3  How are these areas currently regulated?

How are lobbyists regulated?
Does the current system of self-regulation work?

How are the lobbied regulated?

Freedom of Information

Consultation

Interests, gifts and hospitality

Business Appointment Rules

Conclusion

4  Regulation of lobbying abroad

The US example

The Canadian example

5  The risks of regulation

Making access more exclusive

Encouraging subterfuge

Government in a vacuum

Bureaucracy

6  Proposals for reform

Principles

Promoting ethical behaviour by lobbyists

Ensuring maximum transparency in lobbying activity

Examples from other jurisdictions

A register of lobbying activity: first principles

A mandatory register …

… covering all those involved in accessing and influencing public-sector decision makers from outside the public sector …

… managed and enforced by a body independent of both Government and lobbyists

What information should be included?

Refreshing the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Business Appointment Rules

Monitoring the scale of transfers between the Crown Service and other employers

Application to the public service more widely

7  Conclusion

Conclusions and recommendations

Appendix: Paper by Special Adviser on Regulation of Lobbying Activities outside the UK

Introduction

Canada

1988 Act

1995 Amendment

2003 Amendment

2008 Lobbying Act

Australia

Commentary

European Union

1992-2008

2008

Germany

USA

Formal Minutes

Witnesses

List of written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament

Oral and Written Evidence - Volume II (HC 36-II)

Thursday 29 November 2007
Thursday 24 January 2008
Thursday 7 February 2008
Thursday 6 March 2008
Thursday 8 May 2008
Thursday 15 May 2008
Thursday 19 June 2008


Written Evidence - Volume II (HC 36-II)

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Prepared 5 January 2009