Lobbying Reform To Be Introduced Soon, Promises Minister

Lobbying Reform To Be Introduced Soon, Promises Minister
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The coalition is determined to push through a shake-up of lobbying rules before 2015, constitutional reform minister Mark Harper said today.

Harper dismissed suggestions that plans had been put on the back burner, insisting a White Paper and draft Bill would be published during this parliamentary session.

David Cameron has been hit by a series of lobbying rows since he described the industry as the "next big scandal waiting to happen".

But questions were raised about the Government's commitment to introducing a statutory lobbyist register after no proposals were included in the Queen's Speech.

Giving evidence to the Commons political and constitutional reform committee, Harper said: "We may not be going as fast as some people would like, but we have discovered ... that the devil is in the detail on this subject."

He added: "We are taking a sensible approach but we are determined to get it done in this parliament."