Statement of Accounts 2018-19

The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists’ Statement of Accounts for the financial year 2018-19 was laid before Parliament on 22 July 2019, having been certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General without qualification. You can download a copy of that Statement of Accounts here.

Consultations on Registerable communications, and Codes of Conduct

The Registrar has today launched two public consultations relating to the application of the provisions in Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. The consultations are specifically on the subjects of:

• Registerable communications; and
• Codes of Conduct

The consultation documents can be downloaded by clicking on their subjects above.

If you wish to respond to either consultation, please make sure you send your response by 12 August at the latest, by email to Enquiries@orcl.gov.uk, or in hard copy to ‘Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, 1 Horse Guards Road (Room 3.26), London, SW1A 2HQ’.

Guidance updates on registration and compliance

The Registrar has today published updated guidance on:

• Registration and Quarterly Information Returns; and
• Compliance, including Information Notices, offences and penalties.

These guidance notes update guidance previously issued in 2015 and 2018 respectively.

All guidance published by the Registrar can be viewed via our Guidance page.

Investigation case summary – Calvert Communications

Organisation or person investigated 

Calvert Communications Ltd

Matter(s) investigated

Possible unregistered consultant lobbying by Calvert Communications Ltd.

Registrar’s decision

Calvert Communications Ltd did not meet statutory criteria for consultant lobbying.

Summary of rationale for decision

Explicit confirmation from Calvert Communications that their communications on behalf of paying clients were only with local government. Accordingly, Calvert Communications Ltd did not meet a key criterion in the statutory definition of consultant lobbying, i.e. communications with UK Government Ministers or Permanent Secretaries (or equivalent).

Chronology

1 October 2018	Indicative general evidence of possible unregistered consultant lobbying activity by Calvert Communications received from third party (anonymity requested).
11 October 2018	Email to whistleblower from ORCL seeking any further evidence of specific activities of potential statutory breach
29 October 2018	Letter from Registrar to Calvert Communications. Explained remit of Registrar, referred to published guidance on consultant lobbying, and indicative evidence received, and asked for a response.
20 November 2018	Substantive response from Calvert Communications, explicitly stating they have no access to UK Government Ministers.
Late November 2018	Consideration of papers and evidence by Registrar.

Investigation case summary – Institute of Economic Affairs activities for E Foundation

Organisation or person investigated 

Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

Matter(s) investigated

Possible consultant lobbying by Institute of Economic Affairs on behalf of E Foundation and/or its members.

Registrar’s decision

IEA had not met statutory criteria for consultant lobbying in this case.

Summary of rationale for decision

Explicit confirmation from IEA that they had not received payment – directly or indirectly – from the E Foundation or its members, meant that the IEA did not meet one of the key statutory criteria of consultant lobbying (payment by a third party). Accordingly, IEA could not be considered a consultant lobbyist in relation to the activities in question.

Chronology

29-30 July 2018	Media articles from Guardian and Unearthed including indicative evidence of consultant lobbying by IEA for E Foundation.
Early August 2018	Consideration of initial published evidence by Registrar (Alison White) and decision that case warranted investigation.
20 August 2018	Letters from Registrar to IEA and Unearthed. Explained remit of Registrar, referred to published guidance on consultant lobbying by think tanks, and asked for any further evidence relevant to the case.
3 September 2018	Further evidence provided by Unearthed.
6 September 2018	Substantive response to investigation received from IEA.
22 September 2018	Transfer of case to new Registrar (Harry Rich).
Early October 2018	Consideration of papers and evidence by new Registrar.
29 October 2018	Letter from Registrar to IEA setting out supplemental questions about funding and meetings with Ministers in relation to E Foundation and its members.

Investigation case summary – New Statesman event emails

Organisation or person investigated 

New Statesman

Matter(s) investigated

Possible unregistered consultant lobbying by New Statesman.

Registrar’s decision

New Statesman did not meet statutory criteria for consultant lobbying in relation to the activities in question

Summary of rationale for decision

Explicit confirmation from New Statesman that the event in question did not go ahead, and that they do not communicate with Ministers about Government business and on behalf of sponsors. Accordingly, New Statesman did not meet the statutory definition of consultant lobbying in relation to the activities in question.

Chronology

12 July 2017	Indicative information received from third party (anonymity requested) of possible unregistered consultant lobbying activity by New Statesman in relation to organising an event that a Minister would be invited to attend.
21 July 2017	Letter from Registrar to New Statesman, drawing attention to requirements for registration, stating evidence had been received of possible consultant lobbying, and seeking response.
18 September 2017	In absence of reply, Registrar writes again to New Statesman, using alternate contact details.
23 November 2017	In absence of a reply, statutory Information Notice issued to New Statesman.
15 January 2018	Reply received by ORCL stating simply that New Statesman do not believe they act as consultant lobbyist and don’t therefore need to register (no reasoning given to support that). Further set of contact details provided for any future correspondence on the matter.
31 January 2018	Further letter from Registrar to New Statesman, using the further set of contact details, advising that a more substantive response to the Information Notice would be required.

2019-20 Business Plan

The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, Harry Rich, published his Business Plan today, setting out key priorities to ensure continued compliance with the Transparency of Lobbying [etc] Act 2014.

You can read the Business Plan here.

Record of Registrar’s external communications in 2019

You can download below a record of all the written and oral external communications conducted by the Registrar, Harry Rich, during 2019.

Record of Registrar’s external communications in 2018

You can download below a record of all the written and oral external communications conducted by the Registrar, Harry Rich, from 22 September 2018 (the date he took office) to 31 December 2018.

Record of Registrar’s interests

You can view a record of the Registrar’s current interests by downloading it below.

Last reviewed 17 May 2021.