48927
2015-16
1138
Anti-Lobbying Clause In Government Grant Agreements
Tommy Sheppard
2016-02-24
That this House notes with serious concern proposals by the Government, published on 6 February 2016 on www.gov.uk, for a new clause to be inserted into all government grant agreements, determination letters, from the new financial year, and no later than 1 May 2016, which states that payments supporting activity intended to influence or attempt to influence Parliament, government or political parties, or attempting to influence the awarding or renewal of contracts and grants, or attempting to influence legislative or regulatory action will not be counted as Eligible Expenditure costs; further notes that the Government itself describes this as an anti-lobbying clause; shares the concerns expressed by many third sector and voluntary organisations outlined in a letter to the Prime Minister dated 11 February 2016, among them the impact the clause may have on the ability of voluntary organisation to bring real-world experience of service users and evidence-based expertise into the public policy debate, and that those organisations working on programmes receiving any grant funding may be prohibited from speaking to hon. Members about developments in their local area, suggesting improvements to policy or legislation, responding to the Government's own consultations, meeting ministers to discuss broader issues and evidence from their programme or even from giving evidence if called by a select committee, and that the clause may therefore have a far broader impact than originally intended; believes the proposals leave the Government vulnerable to accusations of stifling criticism and informed debate about the consequences of its policies; and calls on the Government to urgently reconsider the introduction of this clause.
Central government
Charities
Legislative process
Members of Parliament
Parliament
Voluntary organisations
Tommy Sheppard
2016-02-24
Proposed
Edinburgh East
Scottish National Party
Patrick Grady
2016-02-24
Seconded
Glasgow North
Scottish National Party
Alasdair McDonnell
2016-02-24
Seconded
Belfast South
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Caroline Lucas
2016-02-24
Seconded
Brighton, Pavilion
Green
Jonathan Edwards
2016-02-24
Seconded
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Plaid Cymru
Drew Hendry
2016-02-24
Seconded
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Scottish National Party
Stuart Donaldson
2016-02-24
Signed
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Scottish National Party
Anne McLaughlin
2016-02-24
Signed
Glasgow North East
Scottish National Party
Kirsten Oswald
2016-02-24
Signed
East Renfrewshire
Scottish National Party
Michelle Thomson
2016-02-24
Signed
Edinburgh West
Scottish National Party
Marion Fellows
2016-02-24
Signed
Motherwell and Wishaw
Scottish National Party
Alison Thewliss
2016-02-24
Signed
Glasgow Central
Scottish National Party
Steven Paterson
2016-02-24
Signed
Stirling
Scottish National Party
Martyn Day
2016-02-24
Signed
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Scottish National Party
Paul Monaghan
2016-02-24
Signed
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Scottish National Party
Corri Wilson
2016-02-24
Signed
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish National Party
Philippa Whitford
2016-02-24
Signed
Central Ayrshire
Scottish National Party
Kirsty Blackman
2016-02-24
Signed
Aberdeen North
Scottish National Party
George Kerevan
2016-02-24
Signed
East Lothian
Scottish National Party
Deidre Brock
2016-02-25
Signed
Edinburgh North and Leith
Scottish National Party
Chris Law
2016-02-25
Signed
Dundee West
Scottish National Party
Eilidh Whiteford
2016-02-26
Signed
Banff and Buchan
Scottish National Party
Angela Crawley
2016-02-29
Signed
Lanark and Hamilton East
Scottish National Party
Alex Salmond
2016-02-29
Signed
Chris Stephens
2016-02-29
Signed
Glasgow South West
Scottish National Party
Angus MacNeil
2016-02-29
Signed
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish National Party
John McNally
2016-02-29
Signed
Falkirk
Scottish National Party
Phil Boswell
2016-03-01
Signed
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
Scottish National Party
Liz Saville Roberts
2016-03-01
Signed
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Plaid Cymru
Hannah Bardell
2016-03-01
Signed
Livingston
Scottish National Party
Ronnie Cowan
2016-03-01
Signed
Inverclyde
Scottish National Party
Tasmina Sheikh
2016-03-01
Signed
Ochil and South Perthshire
Scottish National Party
Gavin Newlands
2016-03-01
Signed
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Scottish National Party
Michael Weir
2016-03-01
Signed
Angus
Scottish National Party
Owen Thompson
2016-03-01
Signed
Midlothian
Scottish National Party
Mhairi Black
2016-03-02
Signed
Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Scottish National Party
Natalie McGarry
2016-03-03
Signed
Glasgow East
Scottish National Party
Fiona Mactaggart
2016-03-04
Signed
Slough
Labour
Margaret Ferrier
2016-03-07
Signed
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Scottish National Party
Ian Blackford
2016-03-07
Signed
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Scottish National Party
John Nicolson
2016-03-08
Signed
East Dunbartonshire
Scottish National Party
Roger Godsiff
2016-03-14
Signed
Birmingham, Hall Green
Labour
Joanna Cherry
2016-03-21
Signed
Edinburgh South West
Scottish National Party
Yasmin Qureshi
2016-04-18
Signed
Bolton South East
Labour