Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether lobbyists who provide the secretariat for APPGs can accept funding from overseas sources, and what is the interaction with the registration requirements under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

The House of Commons Commission does not have responsibility for the APPG Rules. However, page 11 of the Guide to the APPG Rules sets out the following rule relating to secretariats and foreign governments:

Rules relating to foreign governments
A Group must not accept the provision of a secretariat by a foreign government, nor may they accept the services of a secretariat funded by a foreign government. A Group’s officers must undertake due diligence as to whether a foreign government is the eventual funder of a secretariat or other benefit.