Lobbyists slow to disclose details on database

Lobbyists are proving slow to embrace new disclosure obligations, with just eight individuals and organisations submitting details of their lobbying activities to date.

That is despite 452 entering themselves on the lobbying register since this became a legal requirement on September 1. None of the eight who have made returns detailing activities are professional consultants or lobbyists. Six are non-profit bodies that lobbied on funding and policy issues, and two are small businesses that lobbied local councillors on their own behalf, rather than any client.

Returns must be made at least three times a year, detailing lobbying activities for the previous four months if not already disclosed. As the first returns deadline is not until January, no lobbyist is in breach of the law. But returns can be made at any time and by not submitting them on an as-you-go basis, lobbyists are storing up a lot of work and a huge volume of information to submit in January.