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1253386

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	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.
	tabling member constituency	Foyle
	tabling member printed	Colum Eastwood
	uin	117395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 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> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 23/11/2020 14:57:20 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4846 label Biography information for Colum Eastwood

1437752

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2022
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to figures from the Electoral Commission released on 2 March 2022 recording the Conservative Party received £80,000 from Lubov Chernukhin in the last quarter, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of donations to political parties.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	134084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2022 answer text <p>UK electoral law already 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 properly carrying on business in the UK. The Government is strengthening the corporate transparency regime to ensure this is the case.</p><p>Reportable donations are overseen by the Electoral Commission. If the Hon. Member has a query relating to its operational policy and guidance on permissible donations, she may wish to ask a question via the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission.</p><p>More broadly, I would make the following observation: there are people in this country of Russian origin who are British citizens. Many are critics of Putin and have condemned his invasion of Ukraine. It is completely wrong and discriminatory to tar them all with the same brush because of their family background or past nationality.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 09/03/2022 17:45:10 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1470685

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2022
	answering body	Members Estimate Committee
	answering dept id	91
	answering dept short name	Members Estimate Committee
	answering dept sort name	Members Estimate Committee
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the Members Estimate Committee, if he will publish the amount of (a) short money and (b) other additional parliamentary support funding provided to each political party on an annual basis since 2015.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	19001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2022 answer text <p>Since 2016–17 it has been a requirement to publish the amounts paid for each financial year and these can be found on the <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/transparency-publications/hoc-transparency-publications/financial-information/financial-assistance-to-opposition-parties/" target="_blank">Parliament website</a>. The short money and Representative Money provided to each political party on an annual basis since 2015 can be found in the pdf attachment.</p><p>The Short Money and Representative Money allocations scheduled to be paid for the current financial year (1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023) are as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Short/Representative Money Allocations 2022/2023</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"><p><strong>Party</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Main Allocation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Travel Budget</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)</p></td><td><p>£202,484.60</p></td><td><p>£5,018.85</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Green Party</p></td><td><p>£187,111.20</p></td><td><p>£4,637.76</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Labour Party</p></td><td><p>£6,812,568.25</p></td><td><p>£146,451.25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liberal Democrats</p></td><td><p>£929,590.70</p></td><td><p>£23,040.69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Plaid Cymru</p></td><td><p>£110,875.00</p></td><td><p>£2,748.13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scottish National Party (SNP)</p></td><td><p>£1,149,355.15</p></td><td><p>£28,487.72</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)</p></td><td><p>£110,875.00</p></td><td><p>£2,748.13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sinn Fein *</p></td><td><p>£171,032.15</p></td><td><p>£4,239.21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>* Representative Money</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Information on previous budget allocations for Short Money and Representative Money can also be found on the App3 tab here:</p><p><a href="https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN01663/CBP01663-2021.xlsx" target="_blank">Data sheets for Library briefing on Short Money </a>(44 KB, Excel Spreadsheet)</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 27/06/2022 18:02:52 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker attachment 1 file name Short Money allocations.pdf title Short Money allocations
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1652990

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2023
	answering body	House of Commons Commission
	answering dept id	18
	answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
	answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, with reference to the documents on Financial Assistance to Opposition Parties on the Parliamentary website, when the Commission plans to publish breakdown information on financial assistance given in 2022-23; and if the Commission will place a copy of that information in the Library of the House.
	tabling member constituency	East Devon
	tabling member printed	Simon Jupp
	uin	194115
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2023 answer text <p>Details of expenditure relating to Financial Assistance to Opposition Parties received for financial year 2022–2023 is published in the House of Commons Members 2022–2023 Annual Report and Accounts (HC1685) which will be available on the Parliamentary website before the House rises for the summer recess.</p><p>The National Audit office (NAO) complete an audit of the House of Commons; Members, this includes a breakdown of Financial Assistance to Opposition Parties.</p><p>Once certified and agreed by the NAO the House of Commons Members Annual Report and Accounts can be laid, and then made available on the Parliamentary website.</p><p>The budgeted allocations and breakdown for 2022–23 is available on the Parliamentary site:<br><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/freedom-of-information/information-we-already-publish/house-of-commons-publication-scheme/members-and-members-staff/financial-assistance-to-opposition-parties/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/freedom-of-information/information-we-already-publish/house-of-commons-publication-scheme/members-and-members-staff/financial-assistance-to-opposition-parties/</a></p><p>House of Commons Members Accounts, Parliamentary site: <br><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/resource-accounts/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/resource-accounts/</a></p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 18/07/2023 20:43:47 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	4862 label Biography information for Simon Jupp

436665

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2015
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Statement and Spending Review 2015, paragraph 1.309, whether any reduction is planned in (a) Cranborne money and (b) Representative money.
	tabling member constituency	Salford and Eccles
	tabling member printed	Rebecca Long Bailey
	uin	19449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2015 answer text <p>Government proposals regarding reducing the cost of politics were published in the Spending Review 2015.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 14/12/2015 17:36:36 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
	tabling member	4396 label Biography information for Rebecca Long Bailey

101200

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	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.
	tabling member constituency	Belfast East
	tabling member printed	Naomi Long
	uin	211922
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 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> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 03/11/2014 15:15:42 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3920 label Biography information for Naomi Long

747148

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2017
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	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.
	tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
	tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
	uin	2270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2017 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> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 05/07/2017 10:29:53 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

1133264

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	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.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	266672
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 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> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 24/06/2019 16:25:16 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1134466

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	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.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	268969
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 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> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 01/07/2019 09:32:22 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1134468

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	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.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	268970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 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> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 01/07/2019 09:32:44 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett