28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 3
Thank you, Harry. If I can start by asking how many lobbyists you actually have on the register.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 3
Welcome back to this meeting of the Standards of Conduct Committee. I'd like to welcome our final witness for this morning, Harry Rich, who is registrar of consultant lobbyists in Westminster. Welcome, Harry, to the meeting. I believe that you'd like to give…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
We'll take a short break now. We've another three minutes before we resume for our final session.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Thank you, John, and thank you, Mr Murray, for attending this morning. It's been a really useful and informative session. I'm sure I speak for all Members when I say that we've got a lot out of it, so thank you very much indeed. And just to say that a copy of…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Okay. Thank you, Pred. I'll bring John in now.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Okay. Pred.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Okay. Thank you. I'll bring in Natasha now, then.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Thank you. I'm conscious of time. We've only got a few minutes left, and I know that my colleagues have lots of other questions also. You mentioned there about the county councillors, and that was an aspect that really intrigued me. I don't think there are…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Thanks, Peredur. Could I ask what challenges you have faced in establishing and maintaining the registers? What have been the main challenges?
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Thank you very much.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 2
Welcome back to this meeting of the Standards of Conduct Committee. For our next evidence session, I would like to welcome our witness, Anthony Murray, who is the assistant principal in the lobbying regulation unit in Ireland. So, welcome to the meeting, and…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you, both, for attending this committee session. It's been very useful. Just to keep you informed, a copy of the transcript will be available as soon as possible and provided to you so that it can be checked for factual accuracy. So, thank you very…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you, John. I'll just check if any other Members have any follow-up questions for Mr McLaren and Mr Drummond. No, it looks like everyone's happy—. We have a question from our legal adviser, Mr Carpanini.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you. I'll bring John in now.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you. Before we move on, I've just got a quick question. I know there are three separate categories of person on the Scotland lobbying register, and I'm just looking for a little bit more information about voluntary registrants. If you could talk us…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Okay. Thank you. I'll bring Peredur in now, then.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Okay. Thank you. And would that process work the same for backbench Members as well, that you would look at their diaries every three months also?
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Before we move on, if I could just pick up on one of the points that you made there. You said that you can access Ministers' diaries. Could you just talk us through that in a bit more detail? Is it something you have done, or how does that actually work?…
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thanks, Peredur. Natasha.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you, both. Natasha, I think you'd like to come in now. Yes.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thanks. I'll bring John in here.
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you. Related to that, how important do you feel it is to issue clear guidance on the interpretation of the legislation, and would you direct that just to lobbyists, or to politicians and their offices as well?
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you. And have you faced any challenges in establishing and maintaining the register?
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
Thank you very much. So, I'll start, then. Could you give us an idea of how many lobbyists there are on each of the registers in Scotland?
28 Tachwedd 2022 , Standards of Conduct Committee
Ymchwiliad i Lobïo: Sesiwn Dystiolaeth 1
I'd like to welcome Billy MacLaren and James Drummond to the meeting, and to ask them both to give us an overview of the Scotland lobbying register.
