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101200
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2014-10-27more like thismore than 2014-10-27
star this property answering body
Northern Ireland Office more like this
star this property answering dept id 21 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Northern Ireland more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on her Department's review of the exemption to the publication of party political donations in Northern Ireland. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Belfast East more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Naomi Long more like this
star this property uin 211922 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 2014-11-03more like thismore than 2014-11-03
star this property answer text <p>Following public consultation earlier this year, we have been working closely with the Electoral Commission to finalise secondary legislation that will allow for greater transparency for donations and loans to political parties in Northern Ireland. This legislation will be brought before the House when consultation with the Electoral Commission has concluded.</p><p> </p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency South West Wiltshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2014-11-03T15:15:42.9085107Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-03T15:15:42.9085107Z
star this property answering member
1466
star this property label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison more like this
star this property tabling member
3920
star this property label Biography information for Naomi Long more like this
1132688
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-17more like thismore than 2019-06-17
star this property answering body
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission more like this
star this property answering dept id 36 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 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 hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission plans to review the ability of UK political parties and campaigns to receive micro-funding from overseas donors. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Cardiff South and Penarth more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Stephen Doughty more like this
star this property uin 911478 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>Electoral law allows parties to adopt a fundraising strategy that focusses on raising funds in small amounts. A positive aspect of this is broad engagement of people in politics.</p><p>Parliament set a threshold of £500, above which donations must be from permissible sources. This is to limit influence from outside the UK on our elections and democracy. Below the threshold, sums given to parties and campaigners are not considered to be donations under law, but recipients still need to satisfy themselves who is giving these sums. Multiple sums from a single source could aggregate to above £500 triggering the permissibility rules. This would exclude overseas donors not on the UK electoral register.</p><p>Parties must have systems in place to comply with the rules, and the Commission provides advice to parties and campaigners about how to ensure that they do. If the current law is complied with, there is no reason why micro funding would result in impermissible donations from overseas donors. However, if it is considered that confidence in this needs to be improved by more transparency, the level of the £500 threshold could be lowered by Parliament.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Houghton and Sunderland South more like this
star this property answering member printed Bridget Phillipson more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-24T09:58:46.777Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-24T09:58:46.777Z
star this property answering member
4046
star this property label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson more like this
star this property tabling member
4264
star this property label Biography information for Stephen Doughty more like this
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
1253386
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-11-18more like thismore than 2020-11-18
star this property answering body
Treasury more like this
star this property answering dept id 14 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Treasury more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Treasury 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 Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) financial support to furlough staff employed by and (b) other financial support for political parties has been allocated (i) intentionally and (ii) in error during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Foyle more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Colum Eastwood more like this
star this property uin 117395 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 2020-11-23more like thismore than 2020-11-23
star this property answer text <p>HMRC are not able to provide information on political parties or any other specific organisations that may have received financial support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).</p><p> </p><p>This is because of HMRC’s duty of confidentiality. HMRC cannot publish identifying information that relates to their functions, which includes the CJRS, unless there is an appropriate legal basis for publication. No such legal basis was in place for the CJRS prior to 12 November 2020 when the latest CJRS Direction was signed.</p><p> </p><p>In line with the published direction, as part of HMRC’s commitment to transparency and to deter fraudulent claims, HMRC will publish information about employers who claim for periods starting on or after 1 December 2020.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Jesse Norman more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-11-23T14:57:20.303Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-23T14:57:20.303Z
star this property answering member
3991
star this property label Biography information for Jesse Norman more like this
star this property tabling member
4846
star this property label Biography information for Colum Eastwood 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
1378864
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, if he will consult on the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose on individuals and organisations for breaking political finance rules. 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 75812 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>The Electoral Commission may impose monetary penalties of up to £20,000 per offence. Criminal matters can be referred to the police. The courts may levy unlimited fines and custodial sentences for some offences, as laid out in the Political Parties Elections and Referendum Act 2000 (as amended).</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 2021-11-24T17:33:49.317Zmore like thismore than 2021-11-24T17:33:49.317Z
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