UK Parliament: All-Party Parliamentary Groups

This episode looks at All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). These are informal, cross-party groups in the UK Parliament, focused on specific topics or countries. Although not official parliamentary bodies, they have faced concerns regarding governance and potential improper access or influence, particularly from lobbyists, commercial entities, or even hostile states. 

Following a review by the Committee on Standards, new rules were agreed by the House of Commons on 19 July 2023. These rules came into force on 16 October 2023, and applied fully from the beginning of the 2024 Parliament. The key change is a two-tier approach to regulation. APPGs receiving significant external financial benefits (over a £1,500 threshold) now face additional requirements for transparency, governance, and oversight, such as providing annual income/expenditure statements and holding specific AGMs. A significant rule change, effective from October 2023, is the ban on foreign governments providing or funding secretariats for APPGs. These changes aim to enhance transparency and address risks of undue influence.

Key Takeaways:

• APPGs are informal cross-party groups in the UK Parliament.
• New regulations were introduced, effective from October 2023 and fully applied since the start of the 2024 Parliament.
• The rules use a two-tier approach, with stricter requirements for groups receiving over £1,500 in external benefits annually.
• Groups exceeding the financial threshold must meet additional requirements, including publishing income/expenditure statements and producing an annual report.
• A ban on foreign governments providing or funding APPG secretariats is in effect from 16 October 2023.
• An audit of compliance was planned for April 2024, with potential deregistration for non-compliant groups.

Discussion: There are concerns about improper access and influence on APPGs by outside entities. How might the new two-tier system, particularly the enhanced requirements for groups receiving external funding, help to improve transparency and potentially mitigate these risks?

Source: Regulation of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) - Research Briefing

Support the show

Follow and subscribe to 'The Bench Report' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes Mon-Thurs: thebenchreport.co.uk

Subscribe to our Substack for in depth analysis of debates past and present.

Shape our next episode or article! Get in touch with an issue important to you - Producer Tom will grab another coffee and start the research!

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube, X, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram @BenchReportUK

Support us for bonus and extended episodes + more.

No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.

Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0....