London,
30
January
2015
|
17:18
Europe/London

CIPR calls for Register of Lobbyists to be “free in first year”

The CIPR has today called for the Statutory Register of Consultant Lobbyists to offer free registration to organisations and individuals who may be required to register under the legislation passed in 2014.

The Register, which is scheduled for launch before 27 March 2015, is a source of concern for many of the public affairs professionals who may be affected. Despite guidance issued today, it remains unclear how much it will cost, with recent speculation on a fee as high as £3,000 per organisation. Government policy is for registrants to bear the entire cost of the Register and for fees to be set on a flat scale.

Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive
There is significant concern about the cost of registering if the Government applies a flat fee across all agencies and sole traders now required by law to be on the register.

Today’s call for those agencies and others to pre-register needs to be seen in that context. This concern may mean those agencies look for ways to avoid the Register rather than positively embrace it.

If the fees were waived for the first 12 months or otherwise gradually introduced, the Register might have a better chance of initial acceptance and get off the ground.
Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive
 
Notes to editors

Notes to editors

About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.

The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).