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Lobbying (Whitehall/Westminster)

Thank you, Mr. Williams for calling me, as my colleagues leave for the imminent vote. I am grateful to Mr. Speaker for granting this debate, and I shall put my cards on the table straight away. I want a mandatory register of lobbyists, as do my friends on the Select Committee on Public Administration. We published a unanimous report, ““Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall””, on 5 January, before the terrible revelations in The Sunday Times. The last time Parliament reported on lobbying was way back in 1991—a lifetime ago, before mobile phones, e-mail and the internet. Sitting suspended for a Division in the House. On resuming—