Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Sheridan Excerpts

Tuesday 20th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I strongly agree. In fact, we are seeking to accelerate the provision of proxy votes for those who are deployed briefly just before a general election, so that servicemen and women who are deployed at short notice are not caught out by the rules and can use proxy votes.

[Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (Lab)]

6. What discussions he has had on the definition of lobbying.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Mark Harper)]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to question 1.

[Jim Sheridan]

May I pump the Minister a little, and ask whether it is part of Government thinking to require companies to register the costs of lobbying in their annual accounts, either directly or indirectly?

[Mr Harper]

If I remember rightly, that was proposed by my Liberal Democrat colleagues when they were in opposition, and the entire parliamentary Labour party voted against it, including, I suspect, the hon. Gentleman. If he will be a little patient and wait for our proposals in the new year, he will be able to satiate his curiosity.