PRCA Welcomes Government Lobbying Consultation

London, 20th January - The PRCA today welcomed the Government’s proposals to create a wide-reaching register of lobbyists. The professional body for the UK public relations and public affairs industry encouraged the Government to act quickly, and to ensure that all who lobby - including charities, lawyers, management consultants, trade unions and business groups alike - must be covered.

Francis Ingham, PRCA Chief Executive, said: “The PRCA supports the Government’s commitment to a statutory register of lobbyists. That register became inevitable some time ago, due to the unfortunate failure of UKPAC to make a unified voluntary register a reality.

“The Government now needs to move quickly, to resolve the uncertainty that hangs over an industry which contributes greatly to the public good, and to good government decisions. After the three month consultation, it should move with urgency to put a statutory register in place.

“We would caution the Government that a register which fails to include charities, lawyers, trade unions, accountancy firms and the like would be a failure. It would be unfair to multi-client agencies, and would leave a majority of the lobbying industry uncovered. A register that did not include the TUC, CBI, Greenpeace and so on would hardly be a register at all.”

 

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

Press enquiries:
Richard Ellis, communciations director
T: 020 7233 6026 ¦ M: 07779 102 758 ¦ E: richard.ellis@prca.org.uk

Letter to Minister announcing PRCA's withdrawal from UKPAC, highlighting our belief in self-regulation, as the most effective and proportionate form of regulation; recognising the need for a statutory register covering all who work in public affairs held by an independent body.


About the PRCA
The PRCA has held its own Public Affairs Code of Conduct since 2000 and its own Public Affairs Register since 2005/2006. Its most recent iteration can be found at /paregister. The most recent Register covers agencies, in-house communications teams, freelancers and individuals from the period September - November 2011.

Who we are: Founded in 1969, the PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams, PR freelancers and individuals. The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and internal communications work, helping teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations.

What we do: The Association exists to raise standards in PR and communications, providing members with industry data, facilitating the sharing of communications best practice and creating networking opportunities.

How we do it and make a difference: All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training. The Association also works for the greater benefit of the industry, sharing best practice and lobbying on the industry's behalf e.g. fighting the NLA's digital licence.

Who we represent: The PRCA represents many of the major consultancies in the UK, and currently has more than 250 agency members from around the world, including the majority of the top 100 UK consultancies. We also represent over 70 in-house communications teams from multinationals, UK charities and leading UK public sector organisations.


About the public relations and public affairs industry
The PR Census conducted by Harris International on behalf of the PRCA and PR Week in 2011 estimated the public relations industry to be worth £7.5 billion per year to the UK economy, employing over 61,000 people. The value of the PR consultancy market (including public affairs) is estimated at £2.5bn per year. Of this the PRCA estimates that as much as £300 million might be public affairs spend.

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