The UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC) register of lobbyists is now open.  Today, UKPAC - established in response to the recommendations made by the Public Administration Select Committee - has taken a huge step toward creating a single register for lobbyists.

For the first time individual CIPR members engaged in public affairs will be able to register their employer, client names and provide professional details. Members of APPC and PRCA who already host their own register will also be listed on the single register.

UKPAC want as many CIPR members who lobby to sign-up and register their details. Once populated, the register will be opened to the public and will contain details of members of the APPC, CIPR and PRCA that are engaged in lobbying. 

On announcing the launch of the register, UKPAC Chairman Elizabeth France said “UKPAC set an ambitious target of having the register open by October.  I am delighted that we have been able to achieve that goal and I encourage all those engaged in lobbying to enter their details.”

UKPAC has created a series of definitions to help people understand if they need to register.  The definitions, along with other information about UKPAC are available on the newly launched website which can be found at www.publicaffairscouncil.org.uk

 

In its report on “Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall” published in January 2009, the Public Administration Select Committee of the House of Commons recommended the establishment of a single body to promote ethical behaviour by those involved in lobbying.

 

The UK Public Affairs Council has four key roles:

 

To hold and review periodically the Guiding Principles covering those who lobby, examining how a common Code of Conduct enshrining the Principles can be established and keeping under review any related Codes of member bodies;

To maintain a Register of those engaged in lobbying and of the organisations on whose behalf they lobby;

To oversee the disciplinary arrangements necessary to enforce the Principles and any common Code; to allocate complaints against individuals or organisations within member bodies to the most appropriate body; and to review periodically the process through which complaints are considered by member bodies;

To promote with its member bodies high ethical standards in lobbying generally.

 

The UKPAC Board comprises independent members Elizabeth France CBE, Sir Roger Sands and George Kidd.  They are joined by representatives of founding industry member bodies the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC), the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). 

 

UKPAC brings together existing member registers held by APPC and PRCA as well as CIPR members who fit UKPAC’s definition of lobbyists.  Data have been submitted by APPC and PRCA and through the UKPAC website, CIPR members will be able to register directly.  Once populated, the register will be made public and searchable.

Please contact UKPAC Executive Secretary, Mark Ramsdale, on 078 111 888 93.