European Union Referendum Bill

Part of European Union Referendum Bill (Programme) (No. 2) – in the House of Commons at 8:45 pm on 7 September 2015.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Michael Ellis Michael Ellis Conservative, Northampton North 8:45, 7 September 2015

Sorry, I am running out of time, so I will not give way.

The Government should have a view, and it should not be expected that the Government of the day will be silent on these issues. The Government should expect to take a position and will want to make a recommendation. Under section 125, purdah would be unnecessarily restrictive.

I am conscious of the time and want to give my right hon. Friend the Minister the opportunity to sum up, but I want to make one more point. The European Commission and foreign Governments cannot be permissible donors under our law, so they would not be entitled to contribute. The fear that has been expressed by some hon. Members is therefore misguided, because the rules are already such that their fear will not be realised. I support the Government’s measures and thank the House for its attention.