Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying

The committee is particularly keen to look at how former MPs can be prevented from exploiting their contacts and experience from their time in office once they leave, following The Sunday Times/Dispatches lobbying sting in March that saw six MPs filmed discussing consultancy services with an undercover reporter. The committee also stripped Stephen Byers, Geoff Hoon and Richard Caborn of their Commons passes.

Anthony Nolan, the charity helping leukaemia patients, has hired PRWeek columnist Alex Hilton to the newly created role of policy and public affairs manager. Well known as a Labour blogger, Hilton was previously director of digital engagement at the agency GameChanger. He starts in the New Year, reporting to head of comms and public affairs Tracey Sands.

MCE Public Relations, the Belfast-based consultancy headed by Paul McErlean, has been brought in by Sainsbury's to handle property communications in Northern Ireland.

The CIPR Government Affairs Group will hear from Lord Tom McNally, Liberal Democrat minister of state and deputy leader of the House of Lords, in its first speaker meeting of 2011 on 27 January.