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Who's been given a parliamentary pass by members of the House of Lords? Who's been given a parliamentary pass by members of the House of Lords?
(6 months later)
Professional lobbyists and political consultants are continuing to get passes for Parliament through members of the House of Lords, the Guardian reports today:Professional lobbyists and political consultants are continuing to get passes for Parliament through members of the House of Lords, the Guardian reports today:

In all, 281 of the 660 people given passes by members of the House of Lords declared some form of outside interest, but many of these were junior roles such as work as a driver for their peer, secretarial work, or internships with outside organisations. But 120 of the roles – a figure almost unchanged since the coalition's first parliamentary session – have gone to consultants, lobbyists, or senior managers and executives in charities and businesses.
In opposition, David Cameron referred to lobbying as "the next big scandal waiting to happen" and the coalition agreement included pledges on lobbying reform, including a statutory register of lobbyists. But as progress in these areas has stalled, transparency advocates have raised concerns over the unchanges status quo in the Lords.
Current parliamentary passholders include lobbyists working with the casino industry, consultants to defence firms, senior trade union officials, and political consultants to overseas governments and their proxies, including Kurdistan and Azerbaijan.
Among those listed on the current version of the register, dated 11 March 2013, are Lord Black of Brentwood – an executive director of the Telegraph Media Group – who sponsors a pass for the Telegraph's head of public affairs, Edward Taylor, and Lord Howard of Rising, who declares a pass to Richard Ritchie, the director of UK government affairs for BP. Both Lord Howard and BP, however, say Ritchie has now retired from BP.
In all, 281 of the 660 people given passes by members of the House of Lords declared some form of outside interest, but many of these were junior roles such as work as a driver for their peer, secretarial work, or internships with outside organisations. But 120 of the roles – a figure almost unchanged since the coalition's first parliamentary session – have gone to consultants, lobbyists, or senior managers and executives in charities and businesses.
In opposition, David Cameron referred to lobbying as "the next big scandal waiting to happen" and the coalition agreement included pledges on lobbying reform, including a statutory register of lobbyists. But as progress in these areas has stalled, transparency advocates have raised concerns over the unchanges status quo in the Lords.
Current parliamentary passholders include lobbyists working with the casino industry, consultants to defence firms, senior trade union officials, and political consultants to overseas governments and their proxies, including Kurdistan and Azerbaijan.
Among those listed on the current version of the register, dated 11 March 2013, are Lord Black of Brentwood – an executive director of the Telegraph Media Group – who sponsors a pass for the Telegraph's head of public affairs, Edward Taylor, and Lord Howard of Rising, who declares a pass to Richard Ritchie, the director of UK government affairs for BP. Both Lord Howard and BP, however, say Ritchie has now retired from BP.
Peers are allowed, under parliamentary rules, to give passes to people with outside employment and interests provided they are "genuinely and personally providing parliamentary secretarial or research assistance to them", and there is no suggestion any peer has broken any of these rules.Peers are allowed, under parliamentary rules, to give passes to people with outside employment and interests provided they are "genuinely and personally providing parliamentary secretarial or research assistance to them", and there is no suggestion any peer has broken any of these rules.
The full list of Lords staff who have declared outside interests, as at 11 March 2013, is below – let us know in the comments if you've spotted anything interesting.The full list of Lords staff who have declared outside interests, as at 11 March 2013, is below – let us know in the comments if you've spotted anything interesting.
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Lords staff who have declared outside interests, as at 11 March 2013Lords staff who have declared outside interests, as at 11 March 2013
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