Policies pursued by the government and opposition parties should be grounded in reality and take into account the needs of businesses, charities, and think tanks. Access to legislators, however, should not be abused. Fairness and transparency must be the keystone of the system.
The Government has taken unprecedented measures to improve transparency since 2010. For example, last year, it outlined wide-ranging improvements in the "Strengthening Ethics and Integrity in Central Government" policy statement of July 2023. These include revising guidance to broaden the range of lobbying engagements declared by departments and linked reforms to the consultant lobbying framework. These measures will ensure that all lobbying activity, irrespective of which sector is being represented, will be conducted openly and in accordance with the principles expected of those in public life.
Also, from January 2024 onwards, meetings held between ministers and consultant lobbyists will be declared through routine quarterly transparency. This will also apply to those senior officials who are subject to meeting declarations. New transparency guidance was published in December 2023, detailing stricter minimum standards for meeting descriptions to ensure that declarations contain relevant, constructive information.
Furthermore, the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL) was established under new legislation passed in 2014. The role of the ORCL is to keep and maintain a register of lobbyists and ensure that there is transparency in the work of those engaging with government ministers and senior civil servants. Lobbyists are required to declare and publish a list of their clients, and this information is made available online.
Ultimately, I believe it is reasonable for the Secretary of State and ministers for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to meet a wide range of stakeholders to discuss issues relating to energy security and net zero. Naturally, that will include oil and gas companies.