A consultation on the future of self-regulation of lobbying was launched today by a Working Party formed by the main lobbying bodies.

 

The Working Party was formed in January in response to the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee’s report on lobbying and specifically to the Committee’s call for the industry to develop a new “umbrella body”. It consists of representatives of the Association of Professional Political Consultants, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations Consultants Association, as well as senior independent figures from outside the industry. The Law Society also sent a representative to two of the meetings of the Working Party.

 

The Issues Paper on a possible Public Affairs Council (PAC) published today invites comments on the main questions identified by the Working Party, including definitions of lobbying, the purpose of the PAC, how to establish a common register and common code of conduct, mechanisms for joining the PAC and possible sanctions and incentives to encourage membership.

 

The Working Party is also holding a workshop on the issues paper at 4pm on Tuesday 19^th May at the CIPR 52-53 Russell Square, London, WC1B 4HP to which all interested parties are being invited.

 

The consultation runs until Friday 6^th June. The Working Party will meet shortly afterwards to consider its response, with a final report expected over the summer.

 

For more information, please contact Mark Adams on 07739 171 191.

  PAC Working Party Issues Paper 7 May 2009