CSPL · Upholding Standards in Public Life

USPL-32

Partially accepted In progress November 2021

Response position and delivery status are recorded separately. Acceptance does not establish implementation.

Recommendation

The government should revise the categories of published information to close the loophole by which informal lobbying is not disclosed in departmental releases.

Addressed to

Cabinet Office

Government response

The Government will expand transparency obligations to include the disclosure of diarised phone calls and virtual meetings. The Government does not believe this needs to include letters, WhatsApps, impromptu phone calls or emails, which do not alone evidence a substantive lobbying engagement.

CSPL assessment

partially_met

Source