 Since 1998, there have also been restrictions on contact between civil servants and lobbyists; this followed an incident known as Lobbygate, where an undercover reporter for "The Observer", posing as a business leader, was introduced by a lobbyist to a senior Downing Street official who promised privileged access to government ministers.The Committee on Standards in Public Life, also created in 1998, is responsible for regulation of contacts between public officials and lobbyists.The increasing influence of politically appointed special advisers in government departments can reduce the political neutrality of public administration.