The SPBE was established in June 2001,[1][2] and was promoted as an educational exchange allowing members of the Scottish Parliament to learn more about all kinds of businesses.
It was criticised by transparency campaigners, including SNP MSP Tricia Marwick, who believed its fee-based system created preferential access to Holyrood.
[2] Its activities and reporting systems were repeatedly discussed by the Parliament's Standards Committee; in 2002 it was condemned for failing to "provide sufficient transparency or accountability.
[4] The SPBE was also criticised after a Labour MSP who took part in one of the schemes was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement by a participating company (Pfizer).
In practice the SPBE was dominated by corporations who paid up to £7,500 to join, and three-quarters of those taking part in its first round of activities were full-time lobbyists.