Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has requested any (a) Ministers and (b) officials to investigate potential contacts between UK parliamentarians and foreign Governments.

The Government is fully committed to tightening up legislation so that foreign money cannot find its way into political campaigning and to tackle foreign lobbying. As such, Ministers and officials have been directed to consider the issue for consultation, which will be published in due course.

Ministers believe this to be particularly pertinent in light of public concerns raised about the funding of campaigning and legislation against Brexit.

I further refer the Hon. Member to a letter sent by the Cabinet Secretary to the Rt. Hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Dominic Grieve); a copy of this letter will be deposited in the library of both Houses.

I also refer him to the answer to the Hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Bob Seely), of 1 November 2019, Official Report, PQ 4350, on the assessment being undertaken of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals on foreign agents’ registration.