Difference between revisions of "UK Public Affairs Council"
Lucy Brown (talk | contribs) (→Background) |
Lucy Brown (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
===Objectives=== | ===Objectives=== | ||
| Line 19: | Line 13: | ||
UKPAC employ the following definition of lobbying: | UKPAC employ the following definition of lobbying: | ||
::"Lobbying means in a professional capacity, attempting to influence, or advising those who wish to influence, the UK Government, Parliament, the devolved legislatures or administrations, regional or local government or other public bodies on any matter within their competence. This covers members who spend all or a significant amount of their time (for example at least 20% of their professional working time) on lobbying activities. Members who do less than 20% may register at their discretion".<ref>CIPR, "[http://www.cipr.co.uk/sites/default/files/UKPAC%20FAQs.pdf What is United Kingdom Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)?]", 25.08.10</ref> | ::"Lobbying means in a professional capacity, attempting to influence, or advising those who wish to influence, the UK Government, Parliament, the devolved legislatures or administrations, regional or local government or other public bodies on any matter within their competence. This covers members who spend all or a significant amount of their time (for example at least 20% of their professional working time) on lobbying activities. Members who do less than 20% may register at their discretion".<ref>CIPR, "[http://www.cipr.co.uk/sites/default/files/UKPAC%20FAQs.pdf What is United Kingdom Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)?]", 25.08.10</ref> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==People== | ==People== | ||
| Line 47: | Line 34: | ||
==Governance== | ==Governance== | ||
| + | |||
The following details of governance are outlined in the UKPAC Terms of Reference: | The following details of governance are outlined in the UKPAC Terms of Reference: | ||
| Line 56: | Line 44: | ||
==Membership register== | ==Membership register== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Debate== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====What the founding members say==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mark Adams argues that "Unlike some of the proposals that have emerged since last weekend from government and others, the PAC is not a knee-jerk reaction to unfavourable headlines. It is the product of careful and measured consideration over many months".<ref>Public Affairs News, "[http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/search-kicks-off-for-ukpacs-first-chairman/2/?tx_ttnews[pointer]=12&cHash=ab3f630de5 Search kicks off for UKPAC's first chairman]", 25.08.10</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) 'sees UKPAC as an opportunity to create a meaningful register which distinguishes | ||
| + | between those [lobbyists] who are ethical and transparent, and those who are not'.<ref>CIPR, "[http://www.cipr.co.uk/sites/default/files/UKPAC%20FAQs.pdf What is United Kingdom Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)?]", 25.08.10</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Labour Government==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Following the announcement in March 2010 of the Labour government's committment to a statutory register of lobbyists, Cabinet Office minister [[Angela Evans Smith]] wrote to [[Sir Philip Mawer]], Chairman of UKPAC's Implemementation Group, saying: | ||
| + | ::"As you know we have taken the decision to have a statutory register of lobbyists. The work that you and the Council are doing to produce a voluntary register will help in the work of delivering a statutory register and I would encourage those who are considering signing up to the voluntary register to do so".<ref>Public Affairs News, "[http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/search-kicks-off-for-ukpacs-first-chairman/2/?tx_ttnews[pointer]=12&cHash=ab3f630de5 Search kicks off for UKPAC's first chairman]", 25.08.10</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Writing in ''Public Affairs News'', [[Mark Adams]] (Deputy Chairman of UKPAC's Implementation Group) responded, arguing that: | ||
| + | ::"[T]here are some serious issues about a statutory register that must be addressed. How will the enforcement of a statutory register be paid for? If, as some have argued, it is to be paid for by the 'lobbying industry', it will introduce an astonishing tax on democracy. Any organisation wishing to make its case to government or Parliament will first have to register and pay a fee to exercise its right to lobby. Is that desirable?".<ref>Public Affairs News, "[http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/search-kicks-off-for-ukpacs-first-chairman/2/?tx_ttnews[pointer]=12&cHash=ab3f630de5 Search kicks off for UKPAC's first chairman]", 25.08.10</ref> | ||
==Contact, Resources, Notes== | ==Contact, Resources, Notes== | ||
Revision as of 14:54, 25 August 2010
The UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC) is an umbrella organisation established in July 2010 with the aim of 'promoting independent regulation of the public affairs sector'.[1] UKPAC was formed by representatives from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA).
Contents
Background
Objectives
- "The aim of the UK PAC is to promote public confidence in those who, in a professional capacity, undertake lobbying by encouraging and sustaining high ethical standards, transparency and accountability amongst those whom the Council regulates. It will offer a system of voluntary regulation to ensure that all those involved in lobbying institutions of government can be governed by a clear set of principles, underpinned by enforceable Codes of Conduct. Further, it will assist public confidence by establishing a publicly accessible Register of those involved in lobbying, indicating the organisations on whose behalf they are lobbying".[2]
Definition of lobbying
UKPAC employ the following definition of lobbying:
- "Lobbying means in a professional capacity, attempting to influence, or advising those who wish to influence, the UK Government, Parliament, the devolved legislatures or administrations, regional or local government or other public bodies on any matter within their competence. This covers members who spend all or a significant amount of their time (for example at least 20% of their professional working time) on lobbying activities. Members who do less than 20% may register at their discretion".[3]
People
Implementation Group
Sir Philip Mawer Chairman
Mark Adams (Lobbyist) Deputy Chairman
Council Board
Independent members
Elizabeth France Chairman
Sir George Kidd
Roger Sands
Industry representatives
Francis Ingham of PRCA
Keith Johnston of CIPR
Gill Morris of APPC
Governance
The following details of governance are outlined in the UKPAC Terms of Reference:
- "The UK Public Affairs Council will be chaired on a Non-Executive, part-time basis by an independent person of high standing drawn from outside the lobbying industry but with experience relevant to the industry. The Chairman will be joined on the UK PAC Board by two further part-time, independent members, plus six representatives from the lobbying industry, initially comprising two representatives each from the APPC, CIPR and PRCA. Each member body will have one vote. Any decisions taken by the Board will require a majority separately amongst the independent members and amongst the members representing the industry. Other member bodies will be eligible to join, subject to satisfying the tests set out below, and will then be entitled to nominate representatives on the Board".[4]
Funding
UKPAC is funded by the three founding bodies.[5]
Membership register
Debate
What the founding members say
Mark Adams argues that "Unlike some of the proposals that have emerged since last weekend from government and others, the PAC is not a knee-jerk reaction to unfavourable headlines. It is the product of careful and measured consideration over many months".[6]
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) 'sees UKPAC as an opportunity to create a meaningful register which distinguishes between those [lobbyists] who are ethical and transparent, and those who are not'.[7]
Labour Government
Following the announcement in March 2010 of the Labour government's committment to a statutory register of lobbyists, Cabinet Office minister Angela Evans Smith wrote to Sir Philip Mawer, Chairman of UKPAC's Implemementation Group, saying:
- "As you know we have taken the decision to have a statutory register of lobbyists. The work that you and the Council are doing to produce a voluntary register will help in the work of delivering a statutory register and I would encourage those who are considering signing up to the voluntary register to do so".[8]
Writing in Public Affairs News, Mark Adams (Deputy Chairman of UKPAC's Implementation Group) responded, arguing that:
- "[T]here are some serious issues about a statutory register that must be addressed. How will the enforcement of a statutory register be paid for? If, as some have argued, it is to be paid for by the 'lobbying industry', it will introduce an astonishing tax on democracy. Any organisation wishing to make its case to government or Parliament will first have to register and pay a fee to exercise its right to lobby. Is that desirable?".[9]
Contact, Resources, Notes
Contact
Address: The Secretary
Willow House
Willow Place
London
SW1P 1JH
Website: http://www.publicaffairscouncil.org.uk/
Resources
Notes
- ↑ UK Public Affairs Council website, accessed 25.08.10
- ↑ UKPAC, "Terms of Reference for the UK Public Affairs Council", 25.08.10
- ↑ CIPR, "What is United Kingdom Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)?", 25.08.10
- ↑ UKPAC, "Terms of Reference for the UK Public Affairs Council", 25.08.10
- ↑ CIPR, "What is United Kingdom Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)?", 25.08.10
- ↑ Public Affairs News, "[pointer=12&cHash=ab3f630de5 Search kicks off for UKPAC's first chairman]", 25.08.10
- ↑ CIPR, "What is United Kingdom Public Affairs Council (UKPAC)?", 25.08.10
- ↑ Public Affairs News, "[pointer=12&cHash=ab3f630de5 Search kicks off for UKPAC's first chairman]", 25.08.10
- ↑ Public Affairs News, "[pointer=12&cHash=ab3f630de5 Search kicks off for UKPAC's first chairman]", 25.08.10
