Clause 7
Political Parties and Elections Bill
12:45 pm
David Howarth (Shadow Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice; Cambridge, Liberal Democrat)
The Electoral Commission has raised a point on clause 7 that members of the Committee have not really been in a position to put forward in an amendment, but on which I would like the Government to put their position on the record. Is it a good idea to reduce from 10 years to five years the period of restrictions on political activities for non-political commissioners? The Electoral Commission’s view seems to be that, although it is not particularly in favour of political commissioners, if there are to be political commissioners, there must be a very clear distinction between the political and non-political ones. I would like the Government to put on record their reply to the Electoral Commission’s point.
Michael Wills (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice; North Swindon, Labour)
I beg the Committee’s pardon. I am afraid that I was leafing through my folder while the hon. Gentleman was making his point. Will he be very patient with me and repeat it?
David Howarth (Shadow Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice; Cambridge, Liberal Democrat)
It is simply the Electoral Commission’s point about clause 7(1). Political activities for the non-political commissioners are currently defined as being activities
“within the last ten years”,
which the clause would change to
“within the last five years”.
The commission has expressed some doubt about that. As I understand it, it wishes to make a clear distinction between the non-political and political commissioners, as long as political commissioners are to take part in its work.
Michael Wills (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice; North Swindon, Labour)
The changes that we are making are in line with the views of the Committee on Standards in Public Life that the current 10-year—
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
Order. I advise Members that they can leave their papers in the Committee room with total safety, as it will be locked until we come back at 4.30 pm, when, I have to confess, my co-Chairman will be in the Chair. The Minister will have time to consider the question put, and I know that the hon. Member for Epping Forest will catch the Chairman’s eye.