Statement of Convener
Over the recess, there has been considerable public interest in several issues that relate to the committee's remit and I want to take this opportunity to bring members up to date with developments on the issue of lobbying.
Members should have a copy of a short extract of the code of conduct working group's supplementary report to the consultative steering group on this issue. For the record, this is the only information that I have used over the summer on which to base my comments. The report says:
"In considering the case for the regulation of lobbying, we recognised that recently there has been a lot of general concern about the activities of ‘professional' paid lobbyists. The concern about lobbying has been tied into concern about ‘sleaze' in public life and has attracted much media coverage and support for regulating lobbyists. The work of lobbying organisations is already regulated in other countries. For example, in Canada and the United States all lobbyists are required to register their activities and the information is publicly available.
However, we noted that there are a number of strong reasons not to recommend regulation. The open nature of the Scottish Parliament would hopefully encourage individuals and groups to approach MSPs directly, therefore, to some extent, making the need for specialist lobbying organisations redundant . . . By regulating lobbyists, we believe that there is a danger of creating an elite group conferring upon them a commercial advantage associated with being a ‘registered' lobbyist. We consider that it is important not to create the impression that the only or the most successful way to approach an MSP is through a lobbyist. It is clearly the right of everyone to be able to lobby Parliament. We want to avoid affording any special status to lobbyists. We concluded that to register lobbyists would afford them a degree of importance and approval that was best avoided. If the Parliament recognised voluntary registration or provided for statutory regulation, there would be a risk that in some way registered lobbyists were considered the approved way to approach MSPs."
I have taken great care to react to media inquiries on this issue by giving my own views, which accord entirely with the consultative steering group's recommendations. This committee has not yet discussed lobbying and I fear that by the time we come to consider it events may have moved on—we may be inundated with calls to legitimise lobbying organisations before we have had a chance to deliberate on the matter.
A major commercial lobbying firm has already approached the First Minister requesting legislation on this issue. I am concerned because it seems that a public authority may also be planning to go down the same route.
The committee may feel it appropriate to take that information into consideration when we discuss item 4. It is important that we consider the stage at which sections of the draft code may be made available to the public.
I hope that my statement has been helpful. I invite comments from members before we move on to item 2.
Your statement raised a number of issues about which all members of the committee are concerned. We are all aware of the situation at the Westminster Parliament and we are keen to avoid the same thing happening in Scotland.
I endorse the views of the consultative steering group. Registering lobbyists would give them a kind of legitimacy, which is not necessarily helpful.
Agencies or areas may employ someone to be based at the Parliament to co-ordinate their activities, which raises a slightly different issue from that of lobbying. We must have a full and frank discussion about what lobbying is if we are not to be sidelined. I know my local area and I know how people in Lanarkshire can unite to present their views to Parliament. That is something positive—it is different from professional lobbying by organisations that represent companies and seek access, favourably or otherwise, to ministers or to MSPs.
The remit of the Parliament is to be accessible to members of the public. I hope that none of my constituents would feel that it was necessary to go to a professional lobbying organisation to get access to me. That has more to do with what MSPs do than with what lobbyists do. If we make ourselves accessible, we will remove the need for lobbyists. Because this Parliament is new, it has the opportunity to change the way in which things have always been done. We can make a real difference by letting the public have the access that they never had before to us and to our proceedings. That should lead to the demise of lobbyists, but we must prove to the people of Scotland that that can be achieved.
It was kind of you to let me come along and speak at this meeting, Mike. At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, I had not expected that I would be here at half-past 9 this morning. However, my local newspaper, the Aberdeen Evening Express, ran a story last night under the title "Anti-sleaze committee to probe lobbyist bid". You were quoted as saying that that controversial proposal would be at the top of the agenda.
I welcome what has been said about the distinction between professional lobbyists and public bodies that are carrying out their duty to represent citizens. Karen referred to Lanarkshire. Aberdeen is another area where the local authority is considering what steps it can take to help the city's MSPs and other representatives to put across the interests of the city. I would like the convener to confirm that there is no suggestion whatever of any probe by this committee into any improprieties, real or potential.
It is also important to put on record the fact that Aberdeen City Council's consideration of lobbying has been carried out with other public authorities in the area in an attempt, as I say, to support those who can put forward the city's case. Any lobbying will be done by me, by the other Aberdeen MSPs, and, I am sure, by the local councillors. I thought that it was appropriate to set the record straight and to assure the citizens of my city that there is nothing on the agenda of the Standards Committee to suggest that there is anything inappropriate in what the council is doing or considering.
Thank you for your contribution Lewis. I can certainly confirm that there was no proposal to launch any investigation. However, as you have raised the issue, I should say that I am concerned about Aberdeen City Council. I am told by its chief executive that the information that I was given about the council is not correct. I have asked him to send me the details from his point of view, and I am still waiting to hear from him.
I am sorry that I have arrived a bit late for the meeting.
I am not sure that I concur with the views that you are putting forward, convener, or with the views of the consultative steering group on this matter. I believe that there is a reasonable case for a process of registering lobbyists.
That is not what I am saying.
Can I just clarify what you are saying? The paper in front of us does not show this to be an agenda item.
It is an agenda item. If you had been here at 9.30 you would have been informed about it. I do not want to go over it again, but it is recorded here on a paper that I will pass to you now, if you want to have a look at it.