Committee (5th Day)

Part of Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill – in the House of Lords at 5:54 pm on 15 December 2010.

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Photo of Lord Howarth of Newport Lord Howarth of Newport Labour 5:54, 15 December 2010

My Lords, I detect some inconsistency in the Minister. He is using this legislation to introduce new rules concerning loans but he has spent a considerable amount of time this afternoon telling the House that it is not appropriate to use this legislation to change rules in respect of other matters that may arise in the conduct of referenda-for example, expenditure on publicity or the rules governing the donations that authorised individuals may give. Why is it okay for the Government to change the rules here where it happens to suit them and not in those other respects?