§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to(a) record each contact by a lobbying organisation with (i) him and (ii) civil servants at No. 10 Downing Street and (b) publish details of such contacts. [49543]
§ The Prime MinisterThe First Report of the Nolan Committee onStandards in Public Life expressly recommended against the establishment of a public register of lobbyists. There was no indication in the evidence to Nolan that there was impropriety in meetings between Ministers or officials and lobbying organisations. Ministers and civil servants receive deputations from many groups who are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. In addition, some lobbyists may attend meetings with Ministers and civil servants but as part of a delegation led by an MP or outside interest group, and the information will not therefore be separately identifiable. It would not therefore be practicable to keep a register of such contacts.