Mixed responses from charities to a Scottish lobbying register

20 Jan 2014 News

SCVO has called for plans to introduce a lobbying bill in Scotland to be scrapped, but other charities have indicated their support for a register of lobbyists.

SCVO has called for plans to introduce a lobbying bill in Scotland to be scrapped, but other charities have indicated their support for a register of lobbyists.

In its response to a Scottish government consultation on introducing a statutory register of lobbyists, SCVO, the umbrella body for Scottish charities, has warned that introducing a register of lobbyists could damage the relationship between MSPs and the voluntary sector.

Felix Spittal, policy officer at SCVO, said: “It is our view that a lobbying register would have a profoundly negative effect on the free flow of information and ideas between the sector, parliamentarians and government officials.”

Instead of creating a register for lobbyists, SCVO proposes the MSPs and ministers be required to publish their diaries online.

British Heart Foundation Scotland is also against the creation of a register and said it “would be counter to the principles of participation and positive engagement”.

The Scottish government announced plans to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists last June and the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee opened an inquiry to find out if there is a problem with lobbying in Scotland and if a register would be an appropriate solution.

The committee issued a call for evidence for the inquiry in September. The deadline to submit a response was 10 January and 43 organisations and individuals did so.

The committee is now taking oral evidence. The first session took place last week and three further sessions are scheduled for 30 January, 27 February and 13 March.

Support for the bill

However, not all charities have opposed the proposals. Alcohol Focus Scotland said it is in favour of a register.

In its response to the committee it described the register as "a necessary and proportionate means of improving lobbying transparency and accountability in Scotland”.

Oxfam Scotland said it supported the creation of a formal register of lobbyists and that it “would favourably contrast the proposals contained in Neil Finlay’s private members bill [the basis for the Scottish government’s proposals] with those contained in the UK government’s transparency of lobbying, non-party campaigning and trade union administration bill”.

The Salvation Army urged policymakers to make sure legislation contained provisions for charities to be able to work in coalition, but supported the proposal for a register of lobbyists.

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