Oral Answers to Questions

Diana Johnson Excerpts

Thursday 27th June 2013 Commons Chamber

The Leader of the House was asked—

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

3. What steps he plans to take to promote the transparency of hon. Members’ membership of all-party parliamentary groups.

[The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom Brake)]

Rules relating to APPGs are a matter for the House. The hon. Lady might be aware that the Standards Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into APPGs. Its terms of reference include the transparency of the House’s regulatory system.

[Diana Johnson]

Given the public concern about APPGs and lobbyists, might it be possible, as a very small measure, to list next to each Member’s entry on the parliamentary website all the APPGs to which they belong?

[Tom Brake]

I thank the hon. Lady for that suggestion, which is one that the Standards Committee might like to consider. Indeed, the House might want to look at that in future. I am sure that we will work to support the initiative.