Moved by
Lord Lansley
30: After Clause 12, insert the following new Schedule—
“SCHEDULE
THE REGISTRAR OF LOBBYISTS
Status
1_ The Registrar is a corporation sole.
2_ The Registrar exercises the functions of that office on behalf of the Crown.
Appointment
3_(1) The Registrar is to be appointed by the Minister.
(2) The Registrar holds office in accordance with the terms and conditions of that appointment; but this is subject to sub-paragraphs (3) to (6).
(3) The term of office for which the Registrar is appointed must not be more than 4 years.
(4) A person may be appointed for a second or third term; but the term for which a person is re-appointed must not be more than 3 years.
(5) The Registrar may resign by giving written notice to the Minister.
(6) The Minister may dismiss the Registrar if the Minister is satisfied that the Registrar is unable, unwilling or unfit to perform the functions of the office.
4_(1) A person is ineligible for appointment as the Registrar if, at any time in the previous 5 years, the person—
(a) was a Minister of the Crown or a permanent secretary, or
(b) carried on the business of consultant lobbying or was an employee of a person who carried on that business.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph—
“Minister of the Crown” means the holder of an office in the government, and includes the Treasury;
“permanent secretary” means a person serving the government in—
(a) the position of permanent secretary or second permanent secretary in the civil service of the State, or
(b) one of the following positions—
(i) Cabinet Secretary;
(ii) Chief Executive of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;
(iii) Chief Medical Officer;
(iv) Director of Public Prosecutions;
(v) First Parliamentary Counsel;
(vi) Government Chief Scientific Adviser;
(vii) Head of the Civil Service;
(viii) Prime Minister's Adviser for Europe and Global Issues.
(3) Regulations may amend the positions in the list above by adding or removing a position.
5_ A defect in the Registrar's appointment does not affect the validity of anything done by the Registrar.
Remuneration and staffing
6_ Service as the Registrar is not service in the civil service of the State.
7_(1) The Registrar may make arrangements for sums in respect of the following to be paid to or in respect of the person holding office as the Registrar—
(a) remuneration;
(b) allowances;
(c) pension.
(2) The sums paid under sub-paragraph (1) are to be determined by the Minister.
8_(1) The Registrar may make arrangements with the Minister or other persons—
(a) for staff to be seconded to the Registrar;
(b) for accommodation or services to be provided to the Registrar.
(2) The payments that may be made under arrangements under sub-paragraph (1)(a) include payments to the staff in addition to, or instead of, payments to the person with whom the arrangements are made.
Accounts
9_(1) The Registrar must keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts.
(2) The Registrar must prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.
(3) The Registrar must send a copy of the statement, within a period specified by the Minister, to the Comptroller and Auditor General.
(4) After the Registrar has sent a copy of a statement of accounts to the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Comptroller and Auditor General must—
(a) examine, certify and report on the statement, and
(b) arrange for a copy of the certified statement and the report to be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.
(5) In this paragraph “financial year” means—
(a) the period beginning on the day on which section 1comes into force and ending on the following 31 March, and
(b) each successive period of 12 months.
Funding
10_(1) The Minister may make grants or loans to the Registrar.
(2) The grants or loans may be subject to conditions (including conditions as to repayment with or without interest).
Amendment of other enactments
11_ In Schedule 1 to the Public Records Act 1958 (definition of public records) at the appropriate place in Part 2 of the Table at the end of paragraph 3 insert—
“The Registrar of Lobbyists”.
12_ In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (departments and authorities subject to investigation) before the entry for the “Registrar General for England and Wales” insert—
“The Registrar of Lobbyists”.
13_ In Part 6 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (other public bodies and offices which are public authorities) at the appropriate place insert—
“The Registrar of Lobbyists”.”
Amendment 31 (to Amendment 30)