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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

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

1244737

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Political Parties: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House how much Cranborne money has been budgeted to (1) the Labour party, (2) the Liberal Democrat party, (3) the office of the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers, and (4) any other groups or parties in the House of Lords, in the current financial year.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mann
	uin	HL9304
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>For the 2020-21 financial year, the maximum amount available for financial assistance to opposition parties and the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers (“Cranborne money”) is as follows:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Labour - £656,948</p></li><li><p>Liberal Democrats - £328,008</p></li><li><p>Office of the Convenor of the Crossbench peers - £ 99,770</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>No other groups or parties are able to claim it.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 22/10/2020 10:56:00 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	1387 label Biography information for Lord Mann

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

1378864

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2021
	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, if he will consult on the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose on individuals and organisations for breaking political finance rules.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	75812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2021 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> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 24/11/2021 17:33:49 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1436081

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2022
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to bring into force the un-commenced provisions of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, regarding donations from non-resident donors.
	tabling member printed	Lord Rennard
	uin	HL6457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to bring into force the uncommenced provisions of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 regarding donations from non-resident donors.</p><p>As set out in a related answer to a question from <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fquestions-statements.parliament.uk%2Fwritten-questions%2Fdetail%2F2019-06-25%2F268970&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40levellingup.gov.uk%7C3163853efe774557d84d08d9fdd4200a%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637819909769752213%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=sXuNbZH3by8Oou0%2BO%2BEkT36i7qCPVFy3HmE4pd6ypPI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Jon Trickett MP (268970</a>) (attached), it is the view of the Government that this provision is not workable given that an individual’s tax status is subject to confidentiality between them and HMRC.</p><p>Further, taxation is not connected to enfranchisement in the UK and 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.</p><p>Registered overseas electors are eligible to make political donations and it is only right that they should be able to donate in the same way as other UK citizens registered on the electoral roll.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 14/03/2022 11:59:02 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh attachment 1 file name 220310 Written questions and answers - HL6457.pdf title Question from Jon Trickett MP
	tabling member	2484 label Biography information for Lord Rennard

1679237

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2023
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 4 July 2023 (HL Deb col 1125), what progress they have made on the consultation on enhancing information sharing.
	tabling member printed	Lord Evans of Weardale
	uin	HL1334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government will consult the relevant authorities with the aim of finding ways to improve information sharing to facilitate enforcement of existing electoral law and report its conclusions to Parliament by the end of 2024.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 05/01/2024 12:34:35 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
	tabling member	4348 label Biography information for Lord Evans of Weardale

1416136

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2022
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make it a criminal offence for foreign governments to channel funds in excess of a limit of £5,000 into the (1) personal, or (2) business, accounts of individual parliamentarians.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5601
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2022 answer text <p>There are rules in place to ensure that only those with a legitimate interest can make political donations. All MPs and members of political parties are regulated donees and can only accept donations of more than £500 made to them in connection with their political activities if it is from a permissible donor. Donations from individuals not on the UK electoral register, such as foreign donors, are not allowed.</p><p>In addition, Members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords must provide information on any financial or non-financial benefit which might reasonably be thought by others to influence their actions or words as Members of Parliament.</p><p>However, we know that in very rare instances, malign actors disguise their links to foreign Governments. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The Government has structures in place to identify foreign interference or any potential threats to democracy and, where necessary, take proportionate action to mitigate them.</p><p>As set out in the Queen’s Speech, the Government is bringing forward new Counter State Threats legislation to give the intelligence agencies and law enforcement the tools they need to tackle the diversifying and evolving threats we face.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 07/02/2022 17:32:37 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1378675

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2021
	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, 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.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	75177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2021 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> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 24/11/2021 18:26:37 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

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