Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on arm's length bodies using public funds to appoint public affairs and lobbying consultancies to engage with Ministers, government departments and hon. Members.

The Cabinet Office does not issue specific guidance on this matter. Section 4.1 of the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies states that ‘it will always be an improper use of public funds for public bodies to employ consultants or other companies to lobby Parliament, government or political parties.’