Meeting of the Parliament 07 January 2016
We would all have to go and look at our diaries to work out how much time we spend meeting people. I am clear in my view that face-to-face lobbying is the most significant form of lobbying, but I am not for a second saying that other forms of communication are not significant, as well. That is why we continue to have an open mind on the matter.
Some respondents to the consultation made calls for written communications to trigger registration. They highlighted the point that Neil Findlay makes, which is that some such communications could, as a matter of fact, constitute lobbying. As I said, the Government acknowledges that point, but in response we must highlight that we are trying to introduce a proportionate approach to lobbying registration.
Our starting point is to question whether it is proportionate to extend registration to written correspondence that is directed to MSPs and ministers. Members across the chamber would, I hope, appreciate what a volume of such correspondence there is—for example, the number of representations that I received from stakeholders in advance of today’s debate. I am sure that other members also received a large volume of written evidence. I am sure, too, that members appreciate that that information—which will have come from across the spectrum—has helped them to prepare for today’s deliberations.