Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department monitors compliance by arm's length bodies with Cabinet Office guidance on the use of public funds for lobbying.

The Cabinet Office sets standards for public bodies, including the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, which states that it is an improper use of public funds for public bodies to employ consultants or other companies to lobby Parliament, government or political parties. Responsibility for ensuring compliance with these standards rests with the Accounting Officer of each arm's length body and their respective sponsoring department.