The Lobbying Act, which was given royal assent in January 2014, is designed to ensure transparency and standards are implemented through three key aspects of primary legislation:
1. Introduces a statutory register of consultant lobbyists and establishes a Registrar to enforce the registration requirements
2. Regulates more closely election campaign spending by those not standing for election or registered as political parties
3. Strengthens the legal requirements placed on trade unions in relation to their obligation to keep their list of members up to date.
Part 2 of the Act in particular may impact upon ERSA and some member organisations, the exact details of how this will be implemented are expected to be set out by the Electoral Commission in July. Furtehr details of the Act and its potential impact are avalibble in the document.