Following his talk at the APPC AGM on the importance of the APPC principles of transparency, John Grogan MP tabled an EDM on the subject.
Public affairs firms and transparency
That this House believes that public affairs firms have a key role to play in articulating the point of view of business, charities, trade unions and public bodies to Government and Parliament; believes that political lobbying must always be open and transparent; welcomes in this regard the codes of the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) and Public Relations Consultations Association (PRCA), which insist that public affairs firms publish the names of all clients and do not make payments to hon. Members and Peers; notes that the APPC register is easily accessible on that Association's website and calls on the PRCA to adopt a similar practice; applauds the decision of Thames Gateway London Partnership to insist that agencies bidding for their public affairs contract must adhere to the ethical codes of the APPC; and calls on all public bodies and private firms to insert a similar clause in all lobbying contracts.
To see the signatories of the Motion, click here.
Gill Morris, the Chair of the APPC, submitted an article to PR Week on 25 May welcoming Mr Grogan's motion.
See: Gill_PRWeek
Mr Grogan subsequently raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions.
To read the exchange, click here.
PR Week on 1 June carried a report of the exchange in the House of Commons, including comments by Peter Luff MP.
See: PM_PRWeek