Consultation on Statutory Register of Lobbyists highlights significant questions
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has responded to the consultation on the draft regulations for the Statutory Register of Consultant Lobbyists, highlighting a number of questions that still need to be addressed by Government.
The CIPR has highlighted:
- The lack of clarity around the exact nature of the activity that will trigger the need to register
- How ‘wider registration’ would help manage the compliance burden and could make registration a more straightforward process
- That the proposed ‘flat fee’ charging structure would penalise small businesses and their clients
The CIPR has also asked for information about how the Registrar will assess the ‘relevance’ of the codes of conduct that can be associated with register entries. The Institute is also asking for clarity on whether sole traders will be forced to list their place of residence on the register.
There is a long way to go before CIPR members can be clear about what is and is not required of them to be compliant with the Statutory Register. It is difficult to answer the Government’s questions about aspects like the charging structure and likely administration costs for the firms and sole traders who will be hit by this law when there is so little guidance from them on the basics, such as what they envisage the scale of charging might be to start with. We look forward to meeting the Registrar, when they are finally formally appointed, and working with them to help them to provide the industry with the clarity it needs to ensure consultant lobbyists don’t fall foul of the law.
Download our consultation response (PDF format, opens in a new window)
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).