The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (Modifications) Resolution 2026

Scottish Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 164

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (Modifications) Resolution 2026

Made

24th March 2026

Coming into force in accordance with paragraph (a)

That the Parliament—

(a)

in exercise of the power conferred by section 15 of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016(1) (“the 2016 Act”) resolves that with effect from the day after the first dissolution of the Parliament following the day on which this Resolution is made the provisions which are contained in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Resolution shall come into force; and

(b)

notes that in accordance with section 48(1) of the 2016 Act the Parliament has consulted the Scottish Ministers.

Citation

1.  This Resolution may be cited as the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (Modifications) Resolution 2026.

Modification of section 5 of the 2016 Act

2.—(1) Section 5 (information about identity) is modified in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) In paragraph (a)—

(a) omit the “and” immediately following sub-paragraph (i),

(b) after sub-paragraph (ii) insert—

“(iii) the individual’s business email address (or, if there is no such email address, the individual's home email address), and

(iv) the individual’s main telephone number (if any),”.

(3) In paragraph (b)—

(a) omit the “and” immediately following sub-paragraph (iv),

(b) after sub-paragraph (v) omit “(each of those expressions having the same meaning as in that Act)”,

(c) after sub-paragraph (v) insert—

“(vi) its registered email address, and

(vii) the telephone number (if any) for its registered office,

(each of the expressions in sub-paragraphs (i) to (vi) having the same meaning as in that Act),”.

(4) In paragraph (c)—

(a) omit the “and” immediately following sub-paragraph (ii),

(b) after sub-paragraph (iii) insert—

“(iv) the email address of the partnership, which must be an email address to which, in the ordinary course of events, emails sent by the Clerk would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the registrant, and

(v) the telephone number (if any) for its main office or place of business, and”.

(5) In paragraph (d)—

(a) omit the “and” immediately following sub-paragraph (i),

(b) after sub-paragraph (ii), insert—

“(iii) the person’s business email address, which must be an email address to which, in the ordinary course of events, emails sent by the Clerk would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the registrant, and

(iv) the telephone number (if any) for its main office or place of business.”.

Modification of section 7 of the 2016 Act

3.—(1) Section 7 (additional information) is modified in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) Omit the “and” immediately following paragraph (a)(iii),

(3) After paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) any information submitted by the registrant about any individual given responsibility by the registrant for the discharge of the duties imposed on the registrant by or under this Act, and”.

Modification of section 11 of the 2016 Act

4.  In section 11 (information returns), in subsection (5)(b), after “(7)(a)” insert “and (aa),”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Resolution)

The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (“the Act”) sets out a registration regime for “regulated lobbying”, as defined in the Act. In doing so it makes provision for a lobbying register which is operated by the Clerk of the Scottish Parliament (“the Clerk”). Part 2 sets out the content of the register and the role and functions of the Clerk in operating it. This includes a requirement that the register contains specified information about each registrant’s identity (section 4). Section 5 sets out that information about identity. Section 7 sets out the additional information that the register must contain.

Paragraph 2 modifies Part 2 of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 by adding to section 5 that the information about the person’s identity must also include an email address and, if available, a telephone number. The type of email address varies depending on the type of person (e.g. individual, company, partnership or other person) but, for registrants who are not individuals, it must be an email address to which, in the ordinary course of events, emails sent by the Clerk would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the registrant.

Paragraph 3 makes provision for further additional information that may be provided by the registrant for inclusion in the register. That further additional information is such information as may be provided by the registrant about any individual given responsibility by the registrant for ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Act.

Paragraph 4 makes a consequential amendment.

These amendments aim to enable the Clerk to improve communication with registrants, for example, to provide updates, notices and reminders that are important for the registrant. They are intended to assist the Clerk in the discharge of the duties and functions imposed by or under the Act.

(1)

2016 asp 16.