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1133264
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-19more like thismore than 2019-06-19
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Government has not issued a commencement order for Section 10 of the Political Parties Act 2009, in relation to non-resident donors. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
star this property uin 266672 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-24more like thismore than 2019-06-24
star this property answer text <p>Successive Governments have considered section 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 to be unworkable</p><p>There is already a robust legal framework in place to ensure only individuals that are registered on the electoral register and organisations that carry out business in the UK can<br>make donations to political organisations in the UK</p><p>In May this year, the Government announced it will consult on strengthening the current provisions which protect UK politics from foreign influence. The consultation may consider<br>recommendations on foreign spending in elections and donations from shell companies.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Torbay more like this
star this property answering member printed Kevin Foster more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-24T16:25:16.157Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-24T16:25:16.157Z
star this property answering member
4451
star this property label Biography information for Kevin Foster more like this
star this property tabling member
410
star this property label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
1134466
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-25more like thismore than 2019-06-25
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2019 to Question 266672 on Political Parties: Finance, for what reason the Government considers Section 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 to be unworkable. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
star this property uin 268969 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-07-01more like thismore than 2019-07-01
star this property answer text <p>The Coalition Government took the decision not to implement the 2009 legislation, as it was not deemed to be workable, and the Conservative Government continues to hold this view.</p><p>During the passage of the 2009 Act, the Electoral Commission raised concerns about the legislation (further to Official Report, 15 October 2009, Col. 998W), and in 2013, the Electoral Commission also flagged issues about the tax status declaration requirements. The Labour Government conceded that the provisions could not be commenced at that time “due to their complex nature” (as outlined in the answer of Official Report, 10 March 2010, Col. 5MC).</p><p> </p><p>An individual’s tax status is subject to confidentiality between them and HMRC. It may therefore be difficult or impossible for the political party and the Electoral Commission to accurately determine whether a donor meets the permissibility test set out section 10 in the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009.</p><p>The Government also has a principled objection to the measures:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The UK has a robust legal framework in place that bans foreign donations. There is a long-standing principle – as originally recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1998 – that permissible donors are those on the UK electoral register, and this includes UK citizens who are registered overseas electors. Companies wishing to make donations must be UK-registered and carrying on business in the UK.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>If a British citizen is able to vote in an election for a political party, they should also be able to donate to that political party, subject to the requirements for transparency on donations. Supporting a political party is part of the democratic process, and is an expression of freedom of association.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Since the adoption of universal suffrage, taxation has never been the basis of enfranchisement in the UK. Those who do not pay income tax, such as those earning less than the tax-free personal allowance, rightly remain entitled to vote. Similarly, full-time students are legally exempt from paying council tax, but still have the right to vote in local elections.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Notwithstanding, as I stated in my previous answer, the Government has announced it will consult on strengthening the current provisions which protect UK politics from foreign influence. The consultation may consider recommendations on tackling loopholes in relation to foreign spending in elections and donations from shell companies which are not properly operating in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, since 2010, the Government has taken action to sanction and deter those involved in offshore evasion, including creating a new criminal offence for serious offshore evasion, and introducing penalties for those who deliberately help others to evade tax offshore. The Government has introduced over 100 new measures to tackle tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Torbay more like this
star this property answering member printed Kevin Foster more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-01T09:32:22.537Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-01T09:32:22.537Z
star this property answering member
4451
star this property label Biography information for Kevin Foster more like this
star this property tabling member
410
star this property label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
1134468
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-25more like thismore than 2019-06-25
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has received representations from the Electoral Commission on the workability of section 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
star this property uin 268970 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-07-01more like thismore than 2019-07-01
star this property answer text <p>The Coalition Government took the decision not to implement the 2009 legislation, as it was not deemed to be workable, and the Conservative Government continues to hold this view.</p><p>During the passage of the 2009 Act, the Electoral Commission raised concerns about the legislation (further to Official Report, 15 October 2009, Col. 998W), and in 2013, the Electoral Commission also flagged issues about the tax status declaration requirements. The Labour Government conceded that the provisions could not be commenced at that time “due to their complex nature” (as outlined in the answer of Official Report, 10 March 2010, Col. 5MC).</p><p> </p><p>An individual’s tax status is subject to confidentiality between them and HMRC. It may therefore be difficult or impossible for the political party and the Electoral Commission to accurately determine whether a donor meets the permissibility test set out section 10 in the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009.</p><p>The Government also has a principled objection to the measures:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The UK has a robust legal framework in place that bans foreign donations. There is a long-standing principle – as originally recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1998 – that permissible donors are those on the UK electoral register, and this includes UK citizens who are registered overseas electors. Companies wishing to make donations must be UK-registered and carrying on business in the UK.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>If a British citizen is able to vote in an election for a political party, they should also be able to donate to that political party, subject to the requirements for transparency on donations. Supporting a political party is part of the democratic process, and is an expression of freedom of association.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Since the adoption of universal suffrage, taxation has never been the basis of enfranchisement in the UK. Those who do not pay income tax, such as those earning less than the tax-free personal allowance, rightly remain entitled to vote. Similarly, full-time students are legally exempt from paying council tax, but still have the right to vote in local elections.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Notwithstanding, as I stated in my previous answer, the Government has announced it will consult on strengthening the current provisions which protect UK politics from foreign influence. The consultation may consider recommendations on tackling loopholes in relation to foreign spending in elections and donations from shell companies which are not properly operating in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, since 2010, the Government has taken action to sanction and deter those involved in offshore evasion, including creating a new criminal offence for serious offshore evasion, and introducing penalties for those who deliberately help others to evade tax offshore. The Government has introduced over 100 new measures to tackle tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Torbay more like this
star this property answering member printed Kevin Foster more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-01T09:32:44.983Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-01T09:32:44.983Z
star this property answering member
4451
star this property label Biography information for Kevin Foster more like this
star this property tabling member
410
star this property label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
1135945
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-01more like thismore than 2019-07-01
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2017 to Question 268970, whether his Department received proposals from the Electoral Commission on the implementation of section 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
star this property uin 271380 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-07-04more like thismore than 2019-07-04
star this property answer text <p>The Electoral Commission set out their concerns and recommendations for implementation in their 2013 report ‘<em>A regulatory review of the UK’s party and election finance laws: Recommendations for change</em>’.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Torbay more like this
star this property answering member printed Kevin Foster more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-04T09:59:54.843Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-04T09:59:54.843Z
star this property answering member
4451
star this property label Biography information for Kevin Foster more like this
star this property tabling member
410
star this property label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
517818
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2016-05-05more like thismore than 2016-05-05
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Electoral Commission's 2013 recommendation that political parties that receive and spend less than £500 annually should be exempt from submitting a full statement of accounts. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Banbury more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Victoria Prentis more like this
star this property uin 36690 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2016-05-10more like thismore than 2016-05-10
star this property answer text <p>The Electoral Commission published a report “a regulatory review of the UK’s party and electoral finance laws” in June 2013 that made 50 recommendations. The report’s first recommendation proposed changes to the reporting requirements for parties that receive and spend less than £500 annually. Such a change would require primary legislation. The Government recognises that there is a balance to be struck between reducing the burden on smaller parties and maintaining transparency of the funding of all parties which contest elections in the UK.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Weston-super-Mare more like this
star this property answering member printed John Penrose more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2016-05-10T12:52:33.607Zmore like thismore than 2016-05-10T12:52:33.607Z
star this property answering member
1584
star this property label Biography information for John Penrose more like this
star this property tabling member
4401
star this property label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
747148
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2017-06-30more like thismore than 2017-06-30
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government remains committed to ensuring consistent levels of transparency on political donations made to political parties. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Denton and Reddish more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Andrew Gwynne more like this
star this property uin 2270 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2017-07-05more like thismore than 2017-07-05
star this property answer text <p>The rules about transparency of political donations are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The Government intends to bring forward legislation to extend transparency that already exists for political parties in Great Britain to also cover donations and loans received by Northern Ireland parties on or after 1 July 2017.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Kingswood more like this
star this property answering member printed Chris Skidmore more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2017-07-05T10:29:53.86Zmore like thismore than 2017-07-05T10:29:53.86Z
star this property answering member
4021
star this property label Biography information for Chris Skidmore more like this
star this property tabling member
1506
star this property label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne more like this
1524049
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-10-19more like thismore than 2022-10-19
star this property answering body
Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 53 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Cabinet Office more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will have discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the steps being taken to help ensure political parties do not exchange financial contributions for honours. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Na h-Eileanan an Iar more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Angus Brendan MacNeil more like this
star this property uin 66926 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-10-25more like thismore than 2022-10-25
star this property answer text <p>It is against the law to 'sell' honours or peerages - offering cash for awards - under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Honours are earned, not bought, and there are clear procedures in place to protect the honours system and to ensure the integrity of the selection process.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Donations to any political party should not be regarded as a reason for disqualification from receiving an honour.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>More broadly, fundraising by political parties is a legitimate part of the democratic process. The alternative is taxpayer-funding of political campaigning, which would mean less money for frontline services like schools, police and hospitals.</p><p> </p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Croydon South more like this
star this property answering member printed Chris Philp more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-10-25T11:00:03.4Zmore like thismore than 2022-10-25T11:00:03.4Z
star this property answering member
4503
star this property label Biography information for Chris Philp more like this
star this property tabling member
1546
star this property label Biography information for Angus Brendan MacNeil more like this
1464114
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-05-18more like thismore than 2022-05-18
star this property answering body
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property answering dept id 211 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that funding of UK political parties does not come from foreign citizens. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Brent Central more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Dawn Butler more like this
star this property uin 4513 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-05-25more like thismore than 2022-05-25
star this property answer text <p>UK electoral law sets out a stringent regime of donations controls that bans foreign donations. Individuals must be on the UK electoral roll to make political donations; in the case of companies, they must be UK-registered and properly carrying on business in the UK. There is only a very limited exception to this, whereby for political parties registered in Northern Ireland, permissible donors also include Irish sources provided they meet prescribed conditions. The Government is strengthening the corporate transparency regime, which will support the donations regime. The Elections Act 2022 further closes potential loopholes on foreign spending.</p><p>By contrast, the (Labour-led) Welsh Government and (SNP-led) Scottish Government have facilitated donations by foreign citizens in British politics, by extending the devolved franchise to all foreign nationals living in Wales and Scotland respectively.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Harborough more like this
star this property answering member printed Neil O'Brien more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-05-25T10:58:09.5Zmore like thismore than 2022-05-25T10:58:09.5Z
star this property answering member
4679
star this property label Biography information for Neil O'Brien more like this
star this property previous answer version
2269
star this property answering member constituency Harborough more like this
star this property answering member printed Neil O'Brien more like this
star this property answering member
4679
star this property label Biography information for Neil O'Brien more like this
star this property tabling member
1489
star this property label Biography information for Dawn Butler more like this
1378675
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2021-11-15more like thismore than 2021-11-15
star this property answering body
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property answering dept id 211 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing measures to prevent (a) regulated donees from accepting donations or loans from people who are (i) not domiciled in the UK and (ii) non-resident for tax purposes and (b) regulated donees and non-party campaigners from accepting donations or loans from people who are not tax compliant. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
star this property uin 75177 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2021-11-24more like thismore than 2021-11-24
star this property answer text <p>There is a long-standing principle – as originally recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1998 – that permissible donors are those on the UK electoral register. If one can vote for a party, then one should be able to donate to it. Foreign donations are banned.</p><p>Election law already allows for registered British expatriates to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, and also to make donations (up to 15 years from leaving the UK). The Election Bill makes no change to that principle, merely it removes the arbitrary 15 year period.</p><p>Since the adoption of universal suffrage, taxation has never been the basis for enfranchisement in our democracy. Some British citizens who work abroad, and who can already vote under the current ‘15 year rule’, only pay tax in the overseas country in which they work. Equally, other British expatriates will currently pay tax on their pensions, property and investments in the UK, but still not have a right to vote.</p><p>Within the UK, those who do not pay income tax, such as those earning less than the tax-free personal allowance, rightly remain entitled to vote. Similarly, full-time students are legally exempt from paying council tax, but rightly still have the right to vote in local elections for the local authority which sets that council tax.</p><p>I also refer the Hon. Member to the answer of 1 July 2019, Official Report, UIN 268969, on the flaws with provisions in the last Labour Government's Political Parties and Elections Act 2009.</p><p>The Elections Bill does provide for separate measures to prevent backdoor foreign spending.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Saffron Walden more like this
star this property answering member printed Kemi Badenoch more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2021-11-24T18:26:37.59Zmore like thismore than 2021-11-24T18:26:37.59Z
star this property answering member
4597
star this property label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch more like this
star this property tabling member
410
star this property label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
1378863
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2021-11-16more like thismore than 2021-11-16
star this property answering body
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property answering dept id 211 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Levelling Up, Housing and Communities more like this
star this property hansard heading Political Parties: Finance remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 remove filter
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing measures to require unincorporated associations that make political contributions in a year totalling above £7,500 or above to report gifts received above £7,500. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
star this property uin 75811 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2021-11-24more like thismore than 2021-11-24
star this property answer text <p>Unincorporated associations making political contributions of more than £25,000 in a calendar year must notify the Electoral Commission and are then subsequently subject to various reporting requirements relating to their own funding. Members’ associations (many of which are unincorporated associations) are separately regulated as regulated donees and must report on donations and loans they receive. The rules are outlined at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.electoralcommission.org.uk%2Funincorporated-associations&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cd4aad1c86d2d4c80aa6208d9af6c4753%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637733701843693710%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=SNoE3JDXq93YtU8Y047%2BHzfc0TQJKWsZadKfGvo1MK0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/unincorporated-associations</a>.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Saffron Walden more like this
star this property answering member printed Kemi Badenoch more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2021-11-24T17:34:25.283Zmore like thismore than 2021-11-24T17:34:25.283Z
star this property answering member
4597
star this property label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch more like this
star this property tabling member
410
star this property label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this