Arms Length Bodies: Lobbying
The question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will update ALB guidance to prevent the spending of public funding on lobbying events.
Answered by Anna Turley
The Rules on Lobbying for Non-Departmental Public Bodies, which are published on GOV.UK, state that Arms Length Bodies are prohibited from using public funds to host promotional receptions, buy exhibition space, or book stands at political gatherings. Any official attendance is strictly limited and necessitates departmental authorisation.
Furthermore, Governmental Grant Agreements contain a compulsory provision that categorises any efforts to influence political parties, parliament, or the government as "ineligible expenditure." This is specified within the GOV.UK Grant Agreements Guidance.
As such, there are currently no intentions to revise the guidance on lobbying for Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs).
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