Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Harper and Yvonne Fovargue

Tuesday 20th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Harper]

The point that the hon. Gentleman makes about those who lobby for the companies they work for, as opposed to third parties, has been made by others and we will weigh that up. If a person from an individual company comes to see a Minister and the Minister discloses that they have had that meeting, as they do, it is clear on whose behalf they are lobbying. The situation that we are trying to deal with is one where we do not know on whose behalf someone is lobbying. That is the reason for our initial proposals.

[Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) (Lab)]

2. What steps he is taking to extend the powers of enforcement of electoral registration officers.