Lobbying and Campaigning

Contacts

Updated 26/7/10

Follow the trail

This page

Issues: Freedom of Information legislation, transparency.
General links.
National government.
Scotland, Wales, NI.
Regional assemblies, agencies.
Local government.
European and international politics.
Political parties.

Elsewhere

Campaigning Resources (including Publications, On the Web) on a separate page.
Comms and Campaigning section of Functional Support page.
Regulatory bodies, including the Ombudsman, government audit.
Research resources page (issues of particular interest to the sector).
Dealing with the media and PR has mainly links to Press: directories, resources and listings; PR Services; Alternative media. Also something on the issues.
On the Areas of Concern 'front page' we have a Government/democracy/media section, covering censorship, electoral reform etc.
See Working Relations - Government contacts for the sector, for offices handling voluntary sector policy etc.

Context

This page is a cross between briefings and listings style. Part of Taking Action grouping.

Issues

Freedom of Information

FoI legislation, implemented fully from 1st January 2005, should (gradually) have a major impact. There will be a legal right to request access to all types of "recorded" information held by public bodies. Information professionals may want to acquire Introduction to Freedom of Information from Freepint. Other reference sources:

The Information Commissioner is the official overseer of the regulations under Freedom of Information (England and Wales). This body also has responsibility for Environmental Information Regulations.
Scotland has a separate (but similar) FOI regime - see Scottish Information Commissioner. Also see Scottish Executive's FOI pages.
The government's lead on the issue was Department for Constitutional Affairs - now Department of Justice. They have a Freedom of Information web site.
Campaign for Freedom of Information is keeping an eye on implementation and publishing advice. Published January 05 is A Short Guide to the Freedom of Information Act and Other New Access Rights in pdf format, 526kb - a recommended starting point.
freedomofinformation.co.uk is providing consultancy and research services and has some useful resources on their site.
NCVO has an online Guide to the Freedom of Information Act written specifically for voluntary organisations.

Note: organisations providing public services will also have obligations under FoI.

Lobbying and PR issues

Alliance for Lobbying Transparency is comprised of civil society groups concerned about the growing influence of professional lobbying on Government decision-making and life in the UK.

Spinwatch monitors the role of public relations and spin in contemporary society.

Also see Government/democracy/media in our Areas of Concern section.

General

Tagish As a major local government web/IS supplier, this company has compiled an authoritative links section: national, local, health, information society etc. Try there if we haven't got the link you want below.

info4local is a widely publicised site from Whitehall, aimed at those working in local government.

DirectGov is the starting point for government info. Public consultations section.

Dod's have a range of guides to parliamentary process and contacts, including what is now Vacher's Quarterly. They've also got online directories for UK, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, European Union etc.

Writetothem is an independent facility to help make contact with Councillors, MP, MEPs, MSPs, or Welsh and London Assembly Members.

Councillor.gov.uk closed - information on what local councillors do and how to contact them is now available via Directgov.

Also see Campaign Resources page under Useful Publications, Campaign Help, etc.

National Government issues

Parliamentary

Members of Parliament: Politics.co.uk has a directory of MPs. Plus see Campaigning Resources page.

Hansard Society promotes effective parliamentary democracy; runs a Lobbying training series with Directory of Social Change on occasional basis. St. Philips Building, Sheffield St, WC2 2EX, phone 020 7955 7459, email: hansard@hansard.lse.ac.uk.

House of Commons gives information on what is going on in the main chamber and elsewhere and various factsheets on how Parliament works.
House of Commons Information Office has list MPs email addresses where available.
House of Lords Information on upcoming business, members etc.
UK Parliament home page.

Government/Whitehall

Department of Communities and Local Government Includes planning issues.
Department for Tranport.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Department for Education (previously Dept for Children, Schools and Families).
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Department of Health Various statistics are available, some by downloading spreadsheets.
Home Office Some of the main subjects covered: Crime/Drugs Prevention; Immigration and Passports; Police. Specific web pages:
- Immigration and Nationality Directorate which is becoming the Border and Immigration Agency.
Ministry of Justice Includes Prisons and Youth Justice. Management of courts, appointment of judges, admin of legal aid, data protection, freedom of information and electoral law.
Department for International Development Includes a 'Working with Civil Society Organisations' section.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Includes science.
HM Treasury.
Cabinet Office Office of the Third Sector has been renamed/ restructured as Office of Civil Society- check the Voluntary Sector section for latest. The Ceremonial Secretariat deals with the honours system, including nominations.
Cabinet Office also has info on 'ministerial responsibilities', and information on government structure/departments.
Go to the Number 10/Prime Ministers website for a round up of current government hot topics.

Published legislation should be available from HMSO, now part of Office of Public Sector Information. The London Gazette for official notices.

The Stationery Office Online Bookshop All the official publications in one place.

National Statistics Includes details of National Statistics Information and Library Service public libraries in Pimlico (London) and Newport (South Wales) under Services.

Scottish, Welsh, NI

Scottish Parliament Well set up - has email contacts for different parts, biographies and register of interest of MSPs. Also has an e-Petitioner section, where you can add your name to an existing petition or find out how to raise a new one.
Scottish Parliament Live Webcam and sound when it is sitting.
Scottish Executive.
SCVO is active in keeping tabs on the Scottish political process - see Policy and Parilament pages.
Scottish Civic Forum has closed at summer 08, but you could contact SCVO to check what is happening.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) The body which represents local government in Scotland. Information about the organisation itself, member councils, areas of current work, publications etc.
National Assembly for Wales Current assembly business and members info.
Welsh Assembly Government.
WCVA - Voluntary Sector Assembly Centre can provide various resources for voluntary organisation dealings with the Welsh Assembly (but can't find any info at Jan 2010).
Northern Ireland Assembly.
Northern Ireland Government main web server.
Policylink is designed to promote good practice in policy-making in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
NICVA's Assembly Monitor web pages.

Regional

Government Offices in the Regions

May be abolished shortly (summer 2010). See Government Offices Network site for list if problems with ours:

North East (GONE),
North West (GONW),
Yorkshire and Humberside (GOYH),
East Midlands (GOEM),
West Midlands (GOWM),
Eastern Region (GOER),
South East (GOSE),
South West (GOSW),
Government Office for London,
A Regional Co-ordination Unit has also been established.

Regional Assemblies/Chambers

They were the democratic/political relation to the regional development agencies, but may no longer have much of a role (summer 2010).

Voluntary sector forums and links to the assemblies - see Local Contacts - Regional.
North East Regional Assembly closed March 2009.
North West Regional Assembly closed - see 4NW the Regional Leaders Forum.
Yorkshire and Humberside Assembly.
East Midlands Regional Assembly.
West Midlands Regional Assembly.
South East Regional Assembly Can access various public records (e.g. agendas and papers) here.
South West Regional Assembly# Low contrast lettering doesn't help on this site!
Greater London Assembly Assembly meetings dates, agendas, Ken's speeches etc.

Regional Development Agencies

Local Government

Local Government Association site is pretty good. If you are looking for a list of local authority web sites, go to Search, then Links.

London Councils develops policy, lobbies government and others, and runs a range of services "designed to make life better for Londoners".

New Local Government Network A membership organisation which supports reform and modernisation in local government. The site contains information about the Network as well as news, key issues, events and debates.