A CONSULTATION has been launched over plans to draw up a register of lobbyists at Holyrood.
The Scottish Government plans to force paid lobbyists to join the register before they could seek to persuade MSPs, including ministers, over issues. They would also have to submit regular returns of face to face meetings with politicians.
Parliamentary business minister Joe FitzPatrick said Holyrood already had strict rules covering lobbying but added: "It is important that we act now to put beyond doubt any question of lobbying impropriety in Scotland and increase transparency."
The consultation comes ahead of the Government's proposed Lobbying Transparency Bill, which is expected to be introduced in the current parliamentary session.
It comes after MSPs on Holyrood's Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee called for an online register of lobbying to be set up for the Scottish Parliament.
After Labour MSP Neil Findlay introduced his own Bill in 2012, the Scottish Government indicated that it would take forward its own legislation following concerns over the influence of lobbyists at Westminster.
Mr Findlay expressed frustration at the speed at which the SNP had taken forward his proposals, saying a further consultation was unnecessary.
He said: "I am very disappointed that the Scottish Government is not immediately moving forward to legislate my proposal. My consultation ended two years ago and at that time the Scottish Government said they would take forward the Bill.
"The standards and procedure committee held another consultation during their inquiry and now we are having yet another consultation. The Government should stop prevaricating and get on with introducing a register of lobbyists."
The Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) Scotland welcomed what it described as "the cautious and sensible approach taken by Ministers".
Peter Duncan, chair of the organisation, said: "APPC Scotland and its members support sensible measures to improve and ensure transparency in the political process. Any statutory register should seek to achieve this aim but in a proportionate manner which does not become overly burdensome on the industry. We also welcome the consultation's acknowledgement that industry codes, such as the APPC's code of conduct, are extremely robust and should not be impeded, but complemented, as part of any statutory code that may form part of the Bill."
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