The Parliamentary watchdog is investigating an MP over possible transparency breaches by a committee backed by the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA). The that Conservative Marcus Fysh broke all-party parliamentary group (APPG) rules concerning 鈥渋ncome and expenditure statements鈥 and the publication of 鈥渕andatory information鈥. Fysh said the inquiry relates to reported breaches by the BESA-supported APPG for education, which he chairs. After the investigation was revealed this week, Fysh stressed he was looking into the matter himself. 鈥淭he group has had no income or expenditure and has simply received secretariat services from Ranelagh Political Communications funded by BESA,鈥 he said. 鈥淪uch benefits need to be reported along with the provision of various notices of meetings and minutes. 鈥淚 am checking whether this has been done correctly on the advice of the secretariat prior to my becoming chairman in February 2020 and since, including during Covid when normal annual general meetings could not take place.鈥 BESA has paid Ranelagh at least 拢132,000 over the last eight years to act as the group鈥檚 secretariat. The shows the group published its income and expenditure statement for this year. It did not publish one for the years between 2017 and 2021. APPGs only need to do so if they have received more than 拢12,500 over the previous 12 months. Guidance says the papers . The APPG鈥檚 website currently does not load, saying 鈥渢he page isn鈥檛 redirecting properly鈥. The APPG has held meetings with the likes of Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, former children鈥檚 minister Will Quince, and children鈥檚 commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza to discuss issues such as SEND reforms and alternative provision. It described itself as a group that 鈥減romotes and stimulates debates across all sectors of education鈥. In 2017, it produced a report into 鈥渉ow schools prepare young people for the future鈥. Fysh said the group has also engaged 鈥渨ith the roll out of technical education鈥, despite being 鈥渞elatively inactive due to Covid restrictions over the past few years鈥. When asked about the standards probe, BESA director general Caroline Wright and Ranelagh managing director Anna Wolffe said they had not been contacted by the commissioner. 鈥淎s such I鈥檓 unable to comment on any investigation that may be underway,鈥 Wright added. 鈥淏ESA would obviously provide any support and information required should it be contacted in the future.鈥 Analysis by The Guardian and opedDemocracy website last year found , fuelling concerns over the potential for backdoor influence. Of the 755 groups last year, more than half of the total 拢25 million funding came from private firms. The rest was charities and trade unions. Steve Goodrich, of Transparency International, told The Guardian there is a 鈥減lethora of interests behind these groups that remain [largely] unchecked by formal rules. Without greater transparency over lobbying, much of what happens in these groups will remain behind closed doors.鈥 On its website, Ranelagh said it is 鈥渇ully versed in all the rules governing the provision of secretariat services for APPGs and we ensure all groups for which we provide support comply with these regulations鈥. BESA has also paid the communications firm to act as secretariat for the APPG for education technology. The group was previously chaired by former education secretary Damian Hinds and Chris Skidmore, who was once a minister at the DfE. Wright explained that the group does not currently appear on the register of APPGs 鈥渂ecause it has not met or appointed officers during the current period鈥. A standards commissioner spokesperson said she was unable to comment on the conduct of individual MPs outside the information published online. BESA has been in the headlines over its public opposition to the 拢42 million Oak curriculum government quango. A letter to education secretary Gillian Keegan, co-ordinated by BESA six months ago, said Oak was a waste of 鈥減ublic funding on what looks set to become another ill-fated government technology project鈥, calling for it to be scrapped. Four of the five members of the House of Lords who signed the letter had paid roles with potential firms that are rivals to Oak.