Lobbying: July 2013 update

There has been discussion of lobbying and the possibility of regulation for some time. The Government ran a consultation on whether and how to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists in 2012, which led to a commitment to publish a White Paper and draft Bill in the 2012-13 session. This did not happen, but the Government has indicated that the legislation will be introduced before the 2013 summer recess.

The background to the debate about lobbying is covered in detail in Standard Note 4633, Lobbying, some of the text of which is reproduced below. This note updates the position.