4.8 p.m.

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to increase the limits on candidates' election expenses at elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom and for connected purposes. As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House explained earlier, the Government thought it right to introduce this Bill to give immediate effect to the recommendation of Mr. Speaker's Conference. The effect of it is that the Conference recommended that the limit on candidates' election expenses should be £1,072 instead of £750 as at present, plus 6p instead of 5p as at present for every six county constituency electors, or for eight borough constituency electors. The Bill will give effect to that recommendation, except that the figure of £1,072 has been rounded up to the figure of £1,075.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Robert Carr, Mr. James Prior, Mr. Gordon Campbell, Mr. Francis Pym and Mr. Mark Carlisle.