UK Public Affairs Council

The UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC) was a United Kingdom organisation enabling self-regulation of individuals engaged in UK lobbying activities.

UK Public Affairs Council
Founded2010
United Kingdom
FounderAssociation of Professional Political Consultants
Public Relations Consultants Association
Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Defunct21 June 2016 (21 June 2016)
FateDissolved
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
ParentPublic Relations and Communications Association

The UKPAC was established in 2010 by the Association of Professional Political Consultants, the Public Relations Consultants Association and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and held its first meeting in July 2010, chaired by Elizabeth France. However, the PRCA resigned from the UKPAC less than 18 months later, in December 2011.[1]

The UKPAC maintained a register of individual lobbyists, first published on 1 March 2011,[2] though the initial completeness and accuracy of the web-based register was much criticised,[3] and was a factor in the PRCA's resignation.[4] The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency also criticised the register, saying an estimated 85-90% of lobbyists were shunning it,[5] and highlighting criticisms by Austin Mitchell MP and others.[6]

After the creation of a statutory registrar of consultant lobbyists (a provision of the Lobbying Act) in early 2015, the UKPAC closed in June 2015 and handed responsibility for its register of lobbyists to the CIPR.[7] A 'UK Lobbying Register' was subsequently launched by the CIPR. UKPAC was officially dissolved on 21 June 2016.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "CIPR responds to PRCA decision to leave UKPAC". CIPR news, 9 December 2011. CIPR. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  2. ^ "UKPAC Register". APPC news. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Pressure mounts on UK Public Affairs Council". Public Affairs News. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  4. ^ "UK Public Affairs Council vows to carry on following PRCA walk-out". PR Week, 15 December 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Up to 90% of lobbyists shun new transparency register". Lobbying Transparency. ALT. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Lobbyists' voluntary register is 'riddled with errors'". Lobbying Transparency. ALT. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ^ Griggs, Ian (30 June 2015). "UKPAC closes and hands responsibility for lobbying register to CIPR". PR Week. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  8. ^ "UK PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
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