Part 4: Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme Section 69: Requirement to register foreign influence arrangements
Sections 69-72 relate to the political influence tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
	Section 69 provides a requirement to register a "foreign influence arrangement" made with a foreign power.
	Subsection (1) provides the meaning of a "foreign influence arrangement". It is an agreement or arrangement between a person, "P", and a foreign power under which a foreign power directs "P" to carry out political influence activities in the UK, or arrange for others to carry out political influence activities in the UK. Activities in the UK will, for example, include where communication is sent from overseas to the UK, as well as activities which take place entirely in the UK.
	Directs" is not defined in the legislation. However, the natural meaning of "direction" is an order or instruction to act. This could be delivered in the language of a request, but only where there is a power relationship between the person and the specified person which adds an element of control or expectation to the request; for example through a contract, payment, coercion or the promise of a future compensation or favourable treatment.
	Subsection (2) provides that if a foreign power is a specified person, an arrangement is not a foreign influence arrangement to the extent that it relates to political influence activities that are relevant activities for the purposes of section 65. In effect, this means that where, or to the extent that, an arrangement is registerable under the requirements of section 65, it is not required to be registered under section 69 as well.
	Subsection (3) provides that where P makes a foreign influence arrangement, they must register the arrangement within 28 days, beginning with the day on which the arrangement is made. For example, if an arrangement is made on 1st January, it must be registered on or before 28th January. The registration requirements fall upon "P", irrespective of whether P carries out the political influence activities, or arranges for others to carry out the activities. P can be an individual or an entity and the requirement to register applies regardless of nationality or where the entity is incorporated or based: they key factor is whether the activities are to be carried out in the UK.
	In contrast to the position under the enhanced tier, political influence activities may be carried out during the 28-day registration period even if the arrangement has not yet been registered (see section 71).
	Subsection (4) applies subsection (3) to pre-existing foreign influence arrangements which continue to have effect after the requirements of subsection (3) come into force; but amends the time period in which registration of these arrangements is required. Pre-existing arrangements must be registered within 3 months of section 69 coming into force. This provides individuals and organisations with a 3-month grace period to register pre-existing arrangements.
	Subsection (5) makes it is an offence for P to fail to register a foreign influence arrangement where P knows or, having regard to other matters known to them, ought reasonably to have known, that the arrangement is a "foreign influence arrangement". This knowledge test ensures that where a person is not aware, or could not have reasonably known, that their arrangement is with a foreign power, they are not guilty of an offence for failing to register it. Penalties for offences in this part are set out at section 80.