CAMPAIGNERS have called for plans to increase transparency around political lobbying to go further.
The Scottish Government’s Lobbying (Scotland) Bill aims to introduce a "measured and proportionate register of lobbying activity’’.
The legislation, published in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, would require organisations to register following face-to-face lobbying of MSPs or ministers.
A coalition of the Electoral Reform Society Scotland, Unlock Democracy and Common Weal wants it extended to cover spending and email, phone and written communications.
Willie Sullivan, director of the Electoral Reform Society Scotland, said: “As it currently stands, the Bill only makes provision for face-to-face meetings, which is out of step with the way people communicate in the modern world. All these other forms of lobbying will remain secret. This Bill would be a beacon of transparency in the 19th century but it fails to live up to the expectations of an electorate which lives in a digital age.”
The legislation follows a recent inquiry by Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, which is now seeking views from members of the public and interested organisations.
Convener Stewart Stevenson said: “Now that we have the Government’s Bill before us for scrutiny, we are asking members of the public and interested organisations to have their say on whether they think the Bill is actually necessary and a register of lobbying is desirable.
“According to the Bill, registration is only triggered when lobbying is being done in exchange for payment and does not capture lobbying carried out in the course of voluntary work – we want to hear if people agree with this approach.
Parliamentary business minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “The Scottish Parliament already has strict rules around lobbying activity but it is important that we act now to put beyond doubt any question of lobbying impropriety in Scotland and increase transparency.”
He said the Government remained open to suggestions on how the legislation could be improved.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here