United Kingdom

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance.
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance.
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site.
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website.
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public: Only the total amount; A summary of the main elements; The complete budget
A summary of the main elements
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public
Notes
It is technically possible for the House to resolve to sit in private, but this power is exercised so rarely as to be irrelevant.
The public gallery can be cleared if the house passes a motion to sit in private. This is usually employed to delay the business of the House, rather than to deliberately conduct proceedings in camera.
Committee meetings are open to the public
Notes
Legislative committees meet in public; select (investigative) committees meet in public for the vast majority of evidence-taking but in private for deliberative purposes.
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings A dedicated channel is one that is mainly about parliament, and is accessible free of charge to the general public. The channel might be owned by Parliament or a public or private company. Dedicated channels may be broadcast by parliament, government, or another broadcaster. They may be carried on television, radio or the Internet (webcasting).
Media used for the dedicated channel
TV
Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel
Plenary sittings
Committee meetings

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country
Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests
Yes
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure Certain categories of information may be exempt from disclosure
Freedom of Information Act 2000, sections 21-44.



A range of general exemptions apply, relating to security, legal processes, policy advice, etc. Parliament is exempt from responding to FOI requests that would infringe on parliamentary privilege. In addition, there are other general exemptions from disclosure that could apply to Parliament, such as national security and privacy for personal information. 



http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents



https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/freedom-of-information-exemptio...

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament
Notes
Anyone can lobby their MP and it is the responsibility of Members to declare any conflicts of interest that may arise from this. A statutory list of professional lobbyists is maintained by the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, but this regulates the lobbying of Members in their capacity as government ministers, rather than as parliamentarians.
There is a register of accredited lobbyists