The government's lobbying bill will be paused for six weeks The bill, which was due to be scrutinised by the Lords later this week, is an effort to regulate the lobbying industry.following allegations about the influence of lobbyists on government decision-making. The bill would also reduce the cap on what any third-party organisation could spend across the UK in the run-up to and during elections from £961,500 to £390,000 a move that critics say would muzzle political debate. The government has already made a series of concessions to its proposed legislation, which will also establish a statutory register of lobbyists. Discussion of the new charity laws will now be put back until the week starting December 16 before which time the coalition said it would consult with "all interested parties." An alliance of almost 40 charities, campaign groups and academics from across the political spectrum has said that the bill is a "muddle" and must be rethought. A report published by the alliance last month urged the government to put the bill on hold until a wider debate could be had on the bill's implications. The group said that the cumulative effect of the bill could have a "chilling effect" on their legitimate activities and risks "profoundly undermining the very fabric of our democracy" by limiting the ability of organisations to speak out.