Scottish ministers steer clear of charity lobbying conditions

Charities and other third sector organisations receiving funding from the Scottish Government will not have their lobbying activities curtailed as a result, ministers have confirmed.

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil pledged today that new funding rules introduced by the UK Government, which could restrict the activities of some third sector organisations, will not be copied by Scottish ministers. 

The rules could prevent funded bodies from trying to influence Parliament, Government or political parties with that funding. They could affect Scottish third sector organisations receiving UK Government funding, and UK-wide charities and voluntary organisations operating in Scotland.

Mr Neil said the Scottish Government already had robust controls in place and would not add this clause to its grant offer letters. He would write to the UK Government urging it to consider "the serious implications of this new clause and the impact it will have on the third sector".

He commented: “In Scotland we recognise third sector and equalities organisations play an important role providing a voice on public policy for communities and we have no intention of adding this clause to our grant offer letters.

“This planned change could make it difficult for some third sector organisation to highlight the issues that are affecting some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“The Scottish Government will continue to work with stakeholders to take a co-produced approach to the development and implementation of policy and we have appropriate and well-designed controls in place to ensure that public money is spent for approved purposes only.”