Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014

Section 3

SCHEDULE 2 The Registrar of Consultant 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) “Minister of the Crown” and “permanent secretary” have the meaning given by section 2(6).

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 3 comes 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 Consultant 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 Consultant 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 Consultant Lobbyists”.