Summary of Investigation – Federation of Small Businesses

Published on: Friday 9th December 2022

Organisation or Person Investigated

Federation of Small Businesses (“FSB”)

Matter(s) Investigated

Whether the FSB is a consultant lobbyist

Registrar’s Decision

The FSB is not a consultant lobbyist

Summary of Rationale for Decision

The FSB’s communications with government ministers that the Registrar is aware of are not ‘on behalf of a client’, which is one of the tests in the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (‘the Act’). The Registrar considers that the FSB is expressing a collective view of the organisation as a whole, rather than a view on behalf of a member (client).  

Chronology

Date	Action
11 October	Formal letter from the Registrar to the FSB giving background on the requirement for registering; asking if their activities fall within the criteria to be registered; with reference to the FSB’s mission statement on their website ‘We offer our members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice heard in government.’
24 October	FSB email to request an extension for response.
24 October	ORCL email to confirm the requested extension.
11 November	Substantive response from FSB regarding their structure, breadth of offer and communications.
9 December	Letter from the Registrar concluding his investigation.

9 December 2022

Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

office@orcl.gov.uk