Commercial Lobbyists (Registration and Code of Conduct) Bill 2012-13 [Bill 39 2012-13]

The Commercial Lobbyists (Registration and Code of Conduct) Bill 2012-13 is a Private Member’s Bill promoted by Thomas Docherty. It seeks to create a statutory register for commercial lobbyists and a legally enforceable code of conduct. It was presented on 25 June 2012, and is scheduled for second reading on 1 February 2013.

There has been discussion of lobbying and possibilities for regulation for some time. The Government ran a consultation on whether and how to introduce a statutory register in 2012, which led to a commitment to publish a White Paper and draft Bill in this session of Parliament.

The background to the debate about lobbying is covered in detail in Standard Note 4633, Lobbying, some of the text of which is reproduced below. This Note concentrates on Mr Docherty’s Bill and the Government consultation.