Scottish Parliament Lobbying Register Annual Report 2020
30.10.2020
The Scottish Parliament's Lobbying Register Team has published its second Annual Report.
This report provides information and figures for the period from 13 June 2019 to 12 June 2020.
Scottish Parliament Lobbying Register Annual Report 2020 (1,726KB pdf)
Scottish Parliament Lobbying Register Annual Report 2020 - associated data (244KB Excel Spreadsheet)
Scottish Parliament Lobbying Register Annual Report 2019
27.09.2019
The Scottish Parliament's Lobbying Register Team has published its first Annual Report.
Lobbying Register open
12.03.2018
The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 has now come into force. The lobbying register is now open for organisations to register details at www.lobbying.scot.
Twitter Account
18.01.2018
The Lobbying Register Team now has a Twitter account. Please follow @SP_LobbyingScot for more information and details of the work being undertaken as we move towards the commencement of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 on 12 March 2018.
Code of Conduct
08.12.2017
The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 requires the Scottish Parliament to publish a code of conduct for persons lobbying members of the Scottish Parliament. This Code of Conduct has been produced to meet this statutory obligation.
This Code of Conduct covers making a communication of any kind to a member of the Scottish parliament in relation to the member's functions. It does not relate solely to "regulated lobbying" as defined in Section 1 of the Act.
When registering an account on the Lobbying Register, in order to comply with the requirements of the Act, you will also be required to provide information about any other code of conduct to which you subscribe which governs regulated lobbying (whether or not it also governs other activities). Please note that not all organisations will subscribe to such a code.
Code of Conduct for Persons Lobbying MSPs
Lobbying in Scotland research report published
The Lobbying Register Team has published a report that it commissioned into gauging the extent of potential users of the new lobbying register and how the team could successfully carry out further outreach and engagement to raise awareness of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016.
The report can be read here.
Date set for Lobbying Register Enforcement
13.10.2017
The date that Scotland's new Lobbying Register will come into force has been announced today.
From Monday 12 March 2018 all regulated lobbying in Scotland, as defined in the Lobbying (Scotland) Act, will have to be registered on Scotland's new Lobbying Register.
Find out more in our News Release.
Lobbying Register Working Group - Draft Parliamentary Guidance
08.09.2017
The Lobbying Register Team made the draft Parliamentary Guidance for the Act available to view on 7 September. Although this guidance is now at a very advanced stage, the team are asking stakeholders to provide any comments specifically relating to any errors or omissions by 28 September 2017.
Lobbying Register Working Group - Second Meeting
28.08.2017
The Lobbying Register Working Group held its second meeting on 23 June 2017. The minutes of this meeting are now available.
The third meeting of the Working group will take place on Tuesday 29 August 2017.
Working Group - Journalism member appointed
Following receipt of a recent application to join the Lobbying Register Working Group we can announce that the position for the journalism sector has been filled by Mandy Rhodes, Editor of Holyrood magazine.
Lobbying Register Working Group - First Meeting
28.06.2017
The Lobbying Register Working Group held its first meeting on 6 June 2017. The minutes of this meeting are now available.
You may also be interested to read the minutes and the paper presented to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body meeting on 18 May and subsequently published, which provided an update on the Lobbying Register.
The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement No.1) Regulations 2017
Regulations have been laid today in Parliament by the Scottish Government, relating to the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016.
Prior to full commencement of the Act and a 'go live' date for the Lobbying Register next year, a number of practicalities are required to be taken forward. These Regulations are for that purpose. They will allow the Parliament, following its summer recess, to pave the way for:
- the publication of guidance on the operation of the Act;
- the publication of a Code of Conduct for persons lobbying Members of the Parliament;
- for the Parliament to be able to bring forward certain resolutions and directions, as required, in advance of the Act's full commencement next year.
- the Parliament promoting public awareness and understanding of the Act.
The Regulations are available to view here:The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement No.1) Regulations 2017.
Working Group – members announced
25.05.2017
Following our recent application process to join the Lobbying Register Working Group we can announce that the positions on the group filled so far are:
| Position 1 (Third Sector - Membership Body) |
Jenny Bloomfield (SCVO) |
| Position 2 (Third Sector - Small Organisation) |
Gary Dunion (Friends of the Earth Scotland) |
| Position 3 (Third Sector - Medium or Large Organisation) |
Susan Lowes (Marie Curie) |
| Position 4 (Public Affairs - Membership Organisation) |
Phil Morgan (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) |
| Position 5 (Public Affairs - Small Company) |
Margaret Smith (Caledonia Public Affairs) |
| Position 6 (Public Affairs - Medium or Large Company) |
Matthew Revett (Grayling) |
| Position 7 (Business/Enterprise - Membership Organisation) |
Colin Borland (Federation of Small Businesses) |
| Position 8 (Business.Enterprise - Small Enterprise) |
Kirsty Peebles (Newsdirect and Biblichor Ltd.) |
| Position 9 (Business/Enterprise - Medium or Large Enterprise) |
Michelle Cullis (Scottish Power) |
| Position 10 (Transparency Promoter) |
Will Dinan (Stirling University) |
| Position 12 (Legal Sector) |
Brian Simpson (Law Society of Scotland) |
We are continuing to advertise for the remaining position on the Lobbying Register Working group. The position still open to apply for is as follows:
Working Group Applications – deadline tomorrow
08.04.2017
The Lobbying Register Team are still seeking applications for the Working Group and the deadline for submitting applications is 12 noon tomorrow (19 April).
Working Group Applications – deadline extended
07.04.2017
The Lobbying Register Team have extended the deadline for applications for the Working group to 12 noon on Wednesday 19 April, due to the Easter school holidays period.
Lobbying Registrar gives evidence to Welsh Assembly Committee
07.04.2017
The Lobbying Registrar, Billy McLaren, was in Cardiff this week to give evidence to the Welsh Assembly's Standards of Conduct Committee as part of its inquiry into lobbying. You can watch a video of this session (external link).
Timetable for Online Lobbying Register, and Working Group Announcement
30.03.2017
The outline timetable for the introduction of Scotland's new online Lobbying Register has been announced today.
The formation of a new Working Group has also been announced and is being set up to help provide further information and assistance as the Act moves towards full implementation. Application forms and information for the Working Group are now available.
What you need to know about the Lobbying Register
24.03.2017
We've published today a short document and video aimed at encouraging stakeholders and those with an interest in the new Lobbying Register to sign-up to receive further updates.
Contract awarded for Lobbying Register
15.03.2017
The Scottish Parliament has now awarded a contract to develop Scotland's new Lobbying Register. Northgate Public Services (UK) Ltd will work with the Scottish Parliament to develop the register which will allow those undertaking lobbying activity in Scotland to register quickly and easily. An indicative timetable for roll-out of the Register will be available later this month.
Sign-up to stay informed
24.01.2017
We are now beginning to plan the development of an online register, and creating guidance to assist with interpreting the rules and regulations of the Act. As part of this work we intend to keep interested parties informed of our progress. If you would like to be added to our database and receive updates from us then please register your interest at: lobbying@parliament.scot.