My Lords, I have some difficulties with this amendment. I declared at the beginning that I had no interests but I have been helped very considerably by a couple of NGOs, Spinwatch and Unlock Democracy. They have been very big parties to the preparation of the Bill and, in fairness to them, they are very unhappy indeed about any movement on my part on the charges side. They make the fundamental point of principle that it is open to anyone to lobby. It should be free, and there should
not be any charge for anybody who engages in it, whether they be the highest in the land or the lowest. In particular, they are concerned that if charges are introduced charities may find it difficult, as might small businesses which might like to play a part in lobbying in one form or another and would have to register and pay, and that would be an imposition on them. They are strongly in favour of resisting any attempt to move away from what the Bill proposes, which is that the Government should bear the cost. They point out that in virtually every country in the world where there is a lobbying or transparency Act, the funding is from the Government. Scotland put a Bill through last year. It is coming into place, and the cost will be met by the Scottish Government. If we continue with charges, we will have a different approach within the UK, assuming this Bill becomes an Act.
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We have taken one issue away to think about. People say I compromise too much, but I can see an area in which it might be possible to talk about a different approach. There would be charging to a degree, but we could conceivably think about the possibility that organisations, such as charities which are registered with the Charity Commission, should be exempt from charges. I would be happy to take this away and talk to my colleagues and to the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, if he is willing to withdraw the amendment on that basis. If not, at the end of day, as I am very keen that this legislation should move forward, I would back off and accept the amendment.