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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

1242235

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the levels at which donations to political parties are recordable and reportable.
tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
uin	HL9043
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>UK electoral law sets out a stringent regime of donations controls to ensure that only those with a genuine interest in UK electoral events can donate to political parties and to ensure transparency of those donations.</p><p>All donations over £500 need to be recorded by political parties and checked for permissibility. Certain donations need to be reported to the Electoral Commission, including all donations from impermissible donors, all donations over £7,500 and donations that are over £1,500 and come from a source that parties have already reported in the same calendar year. To ensure transparency about party funding, donation reports are published by the Electoral Commission on its website.</p><p>The Government is committed to upholding the integrity of our electoral system. As part of that, we are taking forward a programme of work that will strengthen and update the UK’s electoral regulation to ensure it is fit for the modern age; provides a robust framework for campaign finance; and supports public confidence in our processes.</p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 26/10/2020 17:06:57 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True
tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

1239478

registered interest
date	30/09/2020
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to monitor (1) the level of political funding from companies and individuals associated with (a) the arms trade, (b) tobacco companies (c) private medical companies, (d) pharmaceutical companies, and (e) the financial sector, and (2) the percentage, individually and collectively, that funding by companies and individuals constitutes of the total amount of political spending.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL8620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>Lawfully constituted UK companies may make permissible political donations. The Electoral Commission is responsible for regulating party financing. The Commission publishes information relating to donations and loans over £7,500, including the name of the donor and other appropriate such as their address and company registration number. Details are available online.</p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 14/10/2020 15:31:46 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1126732

registered interest
date	14/05/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Electoral Commission about putting in place safeguards to ensure that political parties do not receive donations from people promoting the interests of other countries during and between election campaigns.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL15749
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Electoral Commission in its 2018 report ‘Digital campaigning - Increasing transparency for voters’, included recommendations relating to foreign donations and campaigning. The Government has discussed these with the Electoral Commission.</p><p>On 5th May 2019, the Government announced it will consult on safeguarding UK elections. The consultation may consider recommendations for increasing transparency on digital political advertising, including by third parties; closing loopholes on foreign spending in elections; preventing shell companies from sidestepping the current rules on political finance and on action to tackle foreign lobbying.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 16/05/2019 16:09:24 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1086391

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Electoral Commission concerning the implementation of section 10 the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009; and what was their response.
tabling member printed	Lord Rennard
uin	HL14419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>The Coalition Government took the decision not to implement the 2009 legislation, as it was not deemed to be workable</p><p><br>During the passage of the 2009 Act, the Electoral Commission raised concerns about the legislation (further to Official Report, House of Commons, 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, House of Commons, 10 March 2010, Col. 5MC)</p><p><br>The UK has a robust legal framework in place that bans foreign donations.</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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 printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL14422 HL14423 question first answered 18/03/2019 12:45:10 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	2484 label Biography information for Lord Rennard

1086395

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (1) implementing section 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, and (2) extending permanently the capacity of UK citizens living abroad to make large donations to the parties, on the financing of political parties.
tabling member printed	Lord Rennard
uin	HL14422
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>The Coalition Government took the decision not to implement the 2009 legislation, as it was not deemed to be workable</p><p><br>During the passage of the 2009 Act, the Electoral Commission raised concerns about the legislation (further to Official Report, House of Commons, 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, House of Commons, 10 March 2010, Col. 5MC)</p><p><br>The UK has a robust legal framework in place that bans foreign donations.</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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 printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL14419 HL14423 question first answered 18/03/2019 12:45:10 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	2484 label Biography information for Lord Rennard

1086396

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to restrict donations to political parties from people living in tax havens and paying lower rates of tax than donors to political parties who pay full rates of tax.
tabling member printed	Lord Rennard
uin	HL14423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>The Coalition Government took the decision not to implement the 2009 legislation, as it was not deemed to be workable</p><p><br>During the passage of the 2009 Act, the Electoral Commission raised concerns about the legislation (further to Official Report, House of Commons, 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, House of Commons, 10 March 2010, Col. 5MC)</p><p><br>The UK has a robust legal framework in place that bans foreign donations.</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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</p><p><br>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 printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL14419 HL14422 question first answered 18/03/2019 12:45:10 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	2484 label Biography information for Lord Rennard

750007

registered interest
date	10/07/2017
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, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2017 to Question 2270, on political parties: finance, for what reasons the Government chose 1 July 2017 as the start date.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	3768
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>I first announced my intention to bring forward secondary legislation to implement full transparency from 1 July 2017 during my statement to Parliament on 3 July 2017. This is consistent with the commitment set out in the Government's Northern Ireland manifesto at the General Election. I had previously written to the Northern Ireland political parties in January seeking their views on this issue. The parties were also asked about the date from which transparency should take effect. While all parties that responded expressed broad support for the future publication of donations and loans, only one party expressed support for backdating publication.</p><p>All responses are available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brokenshire-provides-further-details-of-political-donations-policy-to-mps" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brokenshire-provides-further-details-of-political-donations-policy-to-mps</a>.</p><p>Having considered the representations of the parties, I did not believe it right to impose retrospective regulations on those who donated in accordance with the rules set out in law at the time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 3769 question first answered 17/07/2017 12:20:22 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

750008

registered interest
date	10/07/2017
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, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2017 to Question 2270, on political parties: finance, when the Government announced the 1 July 2017 start date.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	3769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>I first announced my intention to bring forward secondary legislation to implement full transparency from 1 July 2017 during my statement to Parliament on 3 July 2017. This is consistent with the commitment set out in the Government's Northern Ireland manifesto at the General Election. I had previously written to the Northern Ireland political parties in January seeking their views on this issue. The parties were also asked about the date from which transparency should take effect. While all parties that responded expressed broad support for the future publication of donations and loans, only one party expressed support for backdating publication.</p><p>All responses are available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brokenshire-provides-further-details-of-political-donations-policy-to-mps" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brokenshire-provides-further-details-of-political-donations-policy-to-mps</a>.</p><p>Having considered the representations of the parties, I did not believe it right to impose retrospective regulations on those who donated in accordance with the rules set out in law at the time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 3768 question first answered 17/07/2017 12:20:23 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

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