The Scottish Parliament must publish a code of conduct for people who want to lobby MSPs.
The Code is not just about regulated lobbying (which is explained in Section 1 of the Act). It also covers any kind of communication with an MSP, in relation to their role as an MSP.
If you are registering an organisational account on the Lobbying Register you must also provide information about any other code of conduct you subscribe to which governs regulated lobbying. This includes if it also governs other activities. Please note, not all organisations will subscribe to such a code.
The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (“the Act”) provides that the Scottish Parliament must publish a Code of Conduct for those persons who lobby members of the Parliament (MSPs). This is set out in Section 44 of the Act which states that “lobbying” means making a communication of any kind to a member of the Parliament in relation to the member’s functions.”
Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs (Lobbying and Access to MSPs) sets out the responsibilities on MSPs who are lobbied.
As such, this Code of Conduct for Persons Lobbying MSPs implements the statutory obligations of the Act and complements the Code of Conduct for MSPs.
Other codes of conduct or practice in relation to lobbying are the sole responsibility of the organisations which publish those codes.
This code sets out the key principles which any person lobbying a member of the Scottish Parliament should respect (use of the term “person” applies here in terms of both an individual and a legal person i.e. an organisation, company or other such entity).
The following ethical principles should be respected:
Version 1 published December 2017
The Act obliges the Parliament to publish this Code of Conduct and to review it from time to time.
The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 also provides that the Scottish Parliament must establish and maintain a Lobbying Register to record “regulated” lobbying as specified under the Act.
Any person engaging in regulated lobbying with MSPs should adhere to the Parliamentary Guidance at www.lobbying.scot published by the Scottish Parliament specifically in relation to regulated lobbying.
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Guidance on lobbying