Political Parties: Finance
Electoral Commission Committee
Written answers and statements, 26 October 2009
Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar, Conservative)
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many full-time equivalent staff are working on the Electoral Commission's investigation into the permissibility of donations by Fifth Avenue Partners and Mr. Michael Brown; what the cost of that investigation has been; when that investigation began; and when that investigation was (a) suspended and (b) resumed.
Gary Streeter (South West Devon, Conservative)
The Electoral Commission informs me that it began inquiries in May 2005 into the donations from 5th Avenue Partners Ltd. to the Liberal Democrats and that those inquiries were suspended in March 2007 pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. Upon conclusion of the proceedings in November 2008, the Commission resumed its investigation. The Commission informs me that it sought access from the City of London Police to relevant documents from the proceedings, obtaining these on
The Commission further informs me that it currently has five full-time staff in its party and election finance enforcement team which is responsible for investigations and case reviews. The number of staff working on a particular case at any one time varies and members of the team may work on a number of cases concurrently. There are currently two full-time equivalent members of staff working on the case with input also being provided by senior managers and the Commission's in-house legal team.
The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not record the precise direct and indirect costs associated with any particular case.