Commentary on Sections Entry in the register
58.Section 10 contains provision relating to the Clerk entering a person in the register as an active registrant following the person providing information under section 8 or applying under section 9.
59.The section goes on to outline the action that must be taken by the Clerk as soon as reasonably practicable after information or an application is received. In particular the Clerk must enter the person in the register as an active registrant and update the register with both (a) information provided by the person under section 8(1) (duty to register in 30 days following first instance of engaging in regulated lobbying when not an active registrant) or under section 9(2)(b) (application by person who is not an active registrant and who has not engaged in regulated lobbying) and (b) any other information provided by the registrant and which the Clerk agrees to include in the register.
60.Once the Clerk has entered the person on the register the Clerk must, as soon as reasonably practicable, send a written notice to the person informing the person of the date on which the period of 6 months in section 11(1)(a) begins for that person (i.e. the date which is the beginning of the 6 month period in respect of which the person will, as an active registrant, require to submit a first information return in relation to regulated lobbying activity under section 11) and of the effect of section 11(1)(b) (which provides that an active registrant must thereafter submit information returns in respect of each subsequent 6 month period).
61.Subsection (4) makes clear that the Clerk may send additional copies of a notice sent under subsection (3) by whatever means the Clerk considers appropriate (for example, by e-mail).