Summary of Investigation – Oxford CCW

Published on: Friday 1st April 2022

Organisation or Person Investigated

The University of Oxford Changing Character of War Centre (CCW)

Matter(s) Investigated

Whether CCW is an unregistered consultant lobbyist

Registrar’s Decision

CCW has not conducted consultant lobbying activities.

Summary of Rationale for Decision

This decision is based on substantive assurances from CCW that they have not communicated with Ministers, Permanent Secretaries or equivalents on behalf of the Technology and National Security All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (the Act), includes a statutory definition of consultant lobbying and only communications with Ministers, Permanent Secretaries or equivalents are registerable.

Chronology

Date	Action
17 February	Article in The Guardian regarding APPGs.
25 February	Formal letter from the Registrar to CCW giving background on the requirement for registering; asking if their activities in general fall within the criteria to be registered; and in particular with reference to their Technology and National Security APPG secretariat role.
18 March	Letter from CCW, giving further background and stating CCW has not made and does not intend to make any registerable communications under the Act.
23 March	Email from the Office of the Registrar to clarify one point in CCW’s letter regarding communicating with Ministers and Ministers as APPG officers
31 March	Email from CCW, confirming their statement of 18 March and clarifying that group emails to APPG officers included Andrew Griffith MP, when he was an officer of the APPG. The dates given pre-date Mr Griffith’s current Ministerial role.
1 April 2022	Letter from Registrar concluding the investigation

1 April 2022

Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

office@orcl.gov.uk