Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulations on political lobbying of members of the Government.

The Government is confident that the Transparency of Lobbying Act, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 is working well in requiring consultant lobbyists to declare on whose behalf they are lobbying. The Act complements existing transparency mechanisms including the quarterly publication of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and industry-led regulation such as subscription to industry codes of conduct.

The Ministerial Code is clear that Ministers must not accept invitations to act as patrons or otherwise offer support to pressure groups and Ministers must ensure that they do not place themselves, or appear to place themselves under an obligation to such groups. The Code also requires Minister to ensure that no conflict arises or could reasonably be perceived to arise between their public duties and their private interest, financial or otherwise.