Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
Kevin Barron (Rother Valley, Labour)
The Standards Committee met this morning and has agreed a report on the implications of this Bill for Members of Parliament, and we are making strong recommendations that paragraph 2 of schedule 1 should be removed and that there should be a sub-paragraph in paragraph 6 stating that any payments we get from IPSA cannot be interpreted as money for lobbying. I hope the Leader of the House will take this into account and make sure the requisite amendments are made before the Bill leaves this House at the end of next week.
Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
My colleagues will, of course, take what the Standards Committee has said very much into account, and I think that illustrates, contrary to what Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion said, why the Bill has not been badly drafted. This is not the first time this has happened. It happens with every piece of legislation in my experience. Sometimes we have to have belt, braces and a piece of string to make sure everybody is absolutely convinced that we are doing what we intend to do.
Well said, Kevin.
Your constituents will be pleased to hear this as they know more than anyone of the importance of knowing exactly where payments are coming from and going to and that everyone is informed of MP’s financial matters. Transparency is all important.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-09-03a.169.0&s=speaker%3A10027#g177.8
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