Behind-the-scenes lobbying activities of UK companies look set to come
under intense scrutiny over the next year as pressure groups gear up to
take advantage of new freedom of information legislation.
Around 20,000 campaign groups and voluntary organizations could avail
themselves of this means to put companies’ lobbying positions in the
spotlight, according to a survey commissioned by the National Council
for Voluntary Organisations.
Matthew Gitsham, lead author of the report, said the Freedom of
Information Act ‘will bring a new accountability to the way in which
companies lobby government, and may also reveal a few skeletons in the
closet’.
The survey of 600 directors and chief executives of voluntary groups
found that 36 per cent intended to use the act soon, and that, if the
figures were scaled up, 20,000 requests for information on the
relationship between government and business might be expected. The
study suggests that the greatest interest would be shown in company
positions on education and training, disability and healthcare.
