West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today published details of meetings which she held with organisations which are either lobby groups or employ public affairs professionals during her parliamentary duties. The announcement is part of her pledge to be clear and transparent about the work that she carries out in Westminster and is in addition to the formal declarations she makes to Parliament in her register of interests. Harriett commented: “Lobbying is part of an MP’s life. Any of my 100,000 constituents can lobby me on any issue and thousands of them do every year, in person and by e-mail and letter. “In addition, I often meet with organisations which employ public affairs professionals or professional lobbyists, especially if it is relevant to my constituency. “Obviously I already am required to disclose details of payments or hospitality in the Register of Members’ Interests. However, I am also publishing monthly any details of any meetings I have with paid lobbyists or firms which employ public affairs professionals. “As sunlight is the best disinfectant, I hope this transparency will demonstrate that paid lobbying is a normal part of parliamentary life.” Harriett added: “In July and August, I met with paid lobby groups or firms that pay public affairs professionals from the UK Defence Forum, Employment Related Services Association, Morrisons, the National Housebuilders Federation, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Payments Council, Severn Trent, the River and Canal Trust, SERCO and the Holocaust Education Trust. “In addition, I attended meetings with the All Party Parliamentary Groups for Trade and Investment and Flood Insurance and was a guest at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford.”