Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying

Addressing MPs on 27 October, Cabinet Office minister Mark Harper said: 'We remain committed to creating a statutory register of lobbyists and will publish a consultation paper next month.' Harper was responding to a question from Labour MP Lisa Nandy.

The House of Commons was due to debate parliamentary lobbying as PRWeek went to press. Labour MP Paul Flynn secured the debate in Westminster Hall, scheduled for 2 November.

Bell Pottinger Public Affairs has announced two new retained clients in its planning division. The agency has landed accounts with real estate investment firm Delancey and property group Lend Lease.

Avisa Partners has signed up Weber Shandwick's former head of public affairs in Brussels, Ana Costillas. She joins as senior adviser while continuing to run her own Brussels public affairs consultancy, Cos&Co. Costillas joined WS last year. She is a former EU affairs adviser for Kraft Foods.