Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning
and Trade Union Administration Bill will be debated at its Report
Stage in the House of Lords on Monday 13th January.
Commenting on the proposals, Ms Runswick said:
I am flabbergasted at the Governments continued endorsement of
this deeply inadequate bill. These proposals are fundamentally
flawed and fall woefully short of the goals set out by the
Coalition Agreement.
The new register, targeted only at third party consultant
lobbyists who meet ministers on behalf of clients, will capture
just a tiny fraction of lobbying and give us even less information
than the current discredited system of self regulation. This shows
the level of this Governments commitment to transparency.
"The government is behaving recklessly by ignoring the advice of
both transparency campaigners and the lobbying industry itself.
Even at this 11th hour we urge them to accept amendments to the
bill
Notes to editors:
1) Unlock Democracy argues and campaigns for a vibrant,
inclusive democracy that puts power in the hands of the people. It
is politically non aligned and works with politicians from all
parties.2) The coalition agreement promised a comprehensive
statutory register which would open up lobbying to public scrutiny.
3) For more detailed information on Part 1 of the Lobbying Bill,
please see our online briefing: http://goo.gl/1grq7D. For
information on ministerial diaries, please see our analysis here:
http://goo.gl/j9XHwO.4) Unlock Democracy has urged peers to vote in
favour of amendments tabled by Lord Hardie, Baroness Royall and
Baroness Hayter that would extend the register to all professional
lobbyists and extend the provisions to Special Advisors and civil
servants.
All media bids and queries should go to Alexandra Runswick on 020
7239 9051 (work hours) or 07739 586666 (out of hours). Email:
[email protected]
