Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026, to Question 18647, on Lobbying: Finance, whether stakeholder engagement of parliamentarians through external public affairs or lobbying firms is permitted by NDPBs; and whether the rules on lobbying apply to executive agencies.

There is a long-standing principle that public bodies, including NDPBs and executive agencies, must be politically impartial, and must ensure the proper use of public money at all times. All public bodies must comply with the rules on lobbying. Public bodies must never employ external firms or consultants to influence or attempt to influence Parliament, the Government or political parties. This includes firms and consultants engaged in stakeholder management.