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MPs split over need for action as PASC inquiry sessions end |
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Public Affairs News, Ian Hall The parliamentary committee investigating lobbying has wrapped up its evidence sessions with MPs divided over whether lobbying is a benign or malign influence on public life – and if regulation is needed. The public administration select committee (PASC) inquiry held its eighth and final evidence session on 19 June. PASC chairman Tony Wright MP and his colleagues will now finalise a report to be sent to the Cabinet Office, which is responsible for cross-government policy on lobbying (see boxout at bottom of this story).
PASC members Charles Walker MP (Conservative) and Paul Flynn MP (Labour) have obviously juxtaposed views on the profession. The former has lamented the lack of a ‘smoking gun’ during the inquiry, while the
latter has been consistently sceptical about the industry.
In the wake of the eighth session Wright told PAN: “The committee has tackled many issues in the past on which there have been sharply different views but has always managed to get an agreed report. I am sure this will be true of the lobbying inquiry, too. The committee probes vigorously, then comes together to find a consensus on the basis of the evidence.”
Reaching consensus will be difficult – another PASC member, David Heyes MP (Labour), conceded in the eighth session that the committee “did not know at this stage what our recommendations will be.”
Two of the recommendations could be a register of lobbyists and/or a tightening up of the rules on ‘revolving doors’ (former ministers, etc, taking private-sector jobs).
The early-day motion (EDM) tabled last month by former environment minister Michael Meacher MP calling for a mandatory register (PAN, June) has now gained the backing of 68 MPs (as of 26 June). Unlock Democracy director Peter Facey, has written to all MPs calling for them to support Meacher’s EDM.
Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey MP, a former lobbyist and one of PAN’s roster of columnists, told the PRCA annual conference on 11 June that a register would be “unworkable” and “counter-productive”.
BOXOUT: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
With the evidence sessions now completed, PASC chairman Tony Wright MP is aiming to “find a consensus on the basis of evidence” as he compiles the committee’s report.?
The report will be sent to the Cabinet Office, with Tom Watson MP one of those upon whose desk the dossier will land. Watson was one of the three junior ministers who gave evidence at the eighth session on 19 June.
Watson says: “I’m keeping an open mind and look forward to its report when it is published. It is the intention of the Cabinet Office to respond to its recommendations within two months of publication… the PASC has significantly influenced the way government organises itself over the years. The report will be taken very seriously.” |
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