SNP lets charities keep on lobbying with public cash
CHARITIES in Scotland will not be prevented from using taxpayers’ money to lobby ministers despite a planned ban on the practice in England and Wales.
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said t he measure, announced earlier this month, could have ‘serious implications’ for the voluntary sector.
It comes after the Cabinet Office announced a new clause is being inserted into grant agreements aimed at making sure taxpayers’ money is spent on improving lives and good causes, rather than lobbying for new regulation or increased funding.
But critics have branded it draconian gagging clause’.
Mr Neil said he would write to the UK Government, ‘urging it to consider the serious implications of this new clause’.
He confirmed the Scottish Government will not be adding the clause to its grant offer letters, saying: ‘This planned change could make it difficult for some
‘a organisations to highlight the issues 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. We have appropriate and welldesigned controls in place to ensure that public money is spent for approved purposes only.’
The UK Government has insisted the clause will not prevent charities and other organisations in receipt of its grants from using privately-raised funds for lobbying campaigns.
The system has been trialled in grants provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The move follows work by Right- of-Centre thinktank the Institute of Economic Affairs into so-called ‘sock puppets’, where taxpayers’ money is handed to pressure groups which then campaign for policy changes or extra money.
John Downie, of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: ‘We fundamentally reject the notion Government funds should not be used to resource lobbying, campaigning or informing public policy. Voluntary organisations not only have a right to campaign and lobby Government, but a duty to do so.’
Jan Savage, of Enable Scotland, said: ‘The use of unrestricted charitable funds allows us to create a platform for people who have l earning disabilities to campaign for what really matters to them. We have campaigned on issues like education for all and the closure of long- stay institutions. Our StoptheBus campaign achieved a significant change for people who have learning disabilities by resolving a policy issue that had seen them lose their access to a bus pass.
‘It was a real victory for people who have learning disabilities, who spoke up and campaigned on an issue that matters to them and is a perfect example of what organisations like Enable Scotland can do to improve the lives of others through campaigning.’