Schedule 1
Political Parties and Elections Bill
6:00 pm
Michael Wills (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice; North Swindon, Labour)
Independent review after independent review has recommended that the Electoral Commission’s powers should be overhauled. It cannot be right, for example, that when someone has used an agent to give money to a party, the Electoral Commission can require information not from the original secret donor, but only from the agent. The powers that we propose will allow the Electoral Commission to investigate effectively and request information from all those who have it.
There is a case to be made for allowing the investigatory powers to apply to regulated donees. However, of course I am aware of the concerns that have been expressed here today, and elsewhere, by hon. Members about the powers and their application to regulated donees. I am also aware that the Electoral Commission has perhaps been reconsidering its position—we have had some communications, and I intend to discuss the matter further with it and to reconsider carefully whether the extension provided by the Bill is defensible. Given that the commission has yet to use the power, the case for extending it may still have to be proven.
Colleagues and Members of Parliament have expressed concerns. We need to seek the advice of the regulatory body to see what it feels on the subject. When we have had those further consultations with the Electoral Commission, I shall respond to this point. However, I take up the invitation of the hon. Member for Cambridge to reconsider those points of view. As we are engaged in reconsidering the provision, I hope that the hon. Member for Huntingdon will withdraw his amendment.