Committee publication · Correspondence · 13 July 2026

Letter from the Ethics and Integrity Commission on the EIC's Report - Lobbying, Business Appointment Rules and Disclosure. Access to Government Decision Making, dated 8.7.26

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Summary

Letter from Ethics and Integrity Commission Chair Doug Chalmers transmitting the EIC's first report on lobbying, business appointment rules, and disclosure. The Commission reviewed these areas March–June 2026 at government request and found urgent action needed on lobbying to meet Nolan principles; Business Appointment Rules require modernisation; Financial Disclosure frameworks are broadly sound but improvable. Chair offers to present findings to PACAC after Summer Recess.

Key findings

Current lobbying system fails to meet the Nolan principle of Openness; evidence points to immediate government action needed to enhance public trust in decision-making
Business Appointment Rules must be updated to reflect the modern operating environment
Financial Disclosure principles are adequate but existing processes require targeted improvements
Review drew on extensive testimony and expertise from individuals and organisations with firsthand experience of lobbying, business appointments, and disclosure issues
Lobbying viewed as valuable democratic activity but transparency about who influences government and on what issues is essential

Tone

Factual

Topics

lobbyinggovernment-ethicspublic-trusttransparencydisclosure

Key actors

Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE, Simon Hoare MP, Ethics and Integrity Commission, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Government (UK)

Notable line

“… the current lobbying system does not meet the Nolan principle of Openness.”

Key Quotes

“Our report deals primarily with lobbying as this is the area where evidence points to immediate action being needed by the Government if public trust and confidence in its decision making is to be enhanced.”
— Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE · Explaining the report's priority focus

“We view lobbying as a valuable part of the democratic process but that it should be clear who is attempting to influence government and on what issues.”
— Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE · On the Commission's stance toward lobbying and transparency

“Our review found that the current lobbying system does not meet the Nolan principle of Openness.”
— Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE · Key finding on lobbying regulation

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗