1st sitting · Tuesday, 15 November 2005

[Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair]

• (Except clauses Nos. 9 to 18; any new clauses or new schedules relating to part 2 or part 3 of the Bill; any new clauses or new schedules relating to the procedure to be followed at an election on the death of a candidate; and any new clauses or new schedules relating to candidates standing in more than one constituency at an election.)

  5 speeches

  Order. I remind the Committee that there is a money resolution in connection with the Bill, copies of which are in the Room. I also remind Members that adequate notice of proposed amendments...

• Clause 1 - CORE schemes: establishment

  18 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 35, in clause 1, page 1, line 4, after 'may', insert ', pursuant to consultation with all affected political parties,'.

• Clause 2 - Use of CORE information

  23 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 40, in clause 2, page 3, line 19, at end insert 'in an individual constituency;'.

• Clause 3 - CORE scheme grants

  28 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 4 - Electoral Commission

  11 speeches

  Question proposed, That clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 5 - CORE schemes: supplemental

  18 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 6 - CORE schemes: procedure

  8 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

2nd sitting · Tuesday, 15 November 2005

[Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair]

• Clause 19 - Review of polling places

  30 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 3, in clause 19, page 18, line 36, at end insert ', except that such a notice may not be made in the period of three months before an eletion the date of which is...

• Clause 20 - Minimum age

  6 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 4, in clause 20, page 22, line 5, leave out 'nominated as a candidate' and insert 'elected'. We do not often have the privilege of amending an Act from 1695; it is a...

• Clause 22 - Nomination procedures

  25 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 5, in clause 22, page 24, line 18, at end insert— '(7A) In rule 7 (subscription of nomination paper), in paragraph (1), for the word ''eight'' substitute ''one...

• Clause 23 - Description of independent candidates

  40 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 19, in clause 23, page 25, line 3, leave out 'Scotland'.

• Clause 24 - Omission of reference to Maundy Thursday

  8 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 25 - Use of candidates' common names

  4 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 26 - Offences as to false statements in nomination papers

  0 speeches

  Amendments made: No. 15, in clause 26, page 28, line 22, leave out first 'In'. No. 16, in clause 26, page 28, line 22, after 'papers)', insert 'is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1),...

3rd sitting · Thursday, 17 November 2005

[Derek Conway in the Chair]

• Clause 27 - Amount of expenses which may be incurred by third party

  4 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 28 - Return as to election expenses

  3 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 29 - Meaning of election expenses for purposes of the 1983 Act

  50 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 7, in clause 29, page 30, line 38, at end insert— '(2A) For the purposes of subsection (1), any expenses incurred by a registered political party in respect of...

• Clause 30 - Discretion to report on certain elections

  2 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 31 - Observation of proceedings and working practices

  1 speech

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

4th sitting · Thursday, 17 November 2005

[Derek Conway in the Chair]

• Clause 31 - Observation of proceedings and - working practices

  5 speeches

  Question proposed [this day], That the clause stand part of the Bill. Question again proposed.

• Clause 32 - Ballot paper design

  22 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 59, in clause 32, page 40, line 17, at end insert: ', following consultation with and agreement from all registered political parties (as defined in Schedule 1 (6A) of...

• Clause 35 - Assistance for certain postal voters

  2 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 36 - Tendered votes in certain circumstances

  4 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 9, in clause 36, page 44, line 38, at end insert— '''(1ZF) If a person applies for a ballot paper and it seems to the presiding officer or a clerk that he is...

• Clause 37 - Undue influence

  5 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 38 - Offences relating to applications for

  3 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 39 - Control of documents after

  5 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 10, in clause 39, page 47, line 16, after third 'the', insert 'marked'.

• Clause 43 - Marked postal voters list

  8 speeches

  Clause 43 concerns the marked postal voters list. Rule 37 of the parliamentary election rules, contained in schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983, makes provision for the full...

• Clause 44 - Returning officers: correction of

  3 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 47 - Political party description

  13 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 64, in clause 47, page 54, line 28, leave out 'up to five'. The amendment continues with an issue first raised on clause 23 by my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon...

• Clause 52 - Time for delivery of unaudited accounts to Electoral Commission

  2 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 56 - Register of donations to include details of nature of donation

  2 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 60 - Referendum and election material

  9 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 61 - Performance of local authorities

  19 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 31, in clause 61, page 63, line 24, at end add— '(4A) The standards for registration officers determined by the Commission shall include a requirement to notify...

• Clause 63 - Encouraging electoral participation

  5 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 65, in clause 63, page 66, line 3, at beginning insert 'Following receipt of written notification by the Electoral Commission of the intended steps to be taken,'.

• Clause 65 - Restriction on powers of arrest by

  9 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

5th sitting · Tuesday, 22 November 2005

[Mr. Edward O’Hara in the Chair]

• Schedule 1 Amendments

  79 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 28, in schedule 1, page 82, line 9, leave out ‘18’ and insert ‘16’.

• Clause 67 - Financial Provision

  3 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• Clause 69 Commencement

  5 speeches

  I beg to move amendment No. 1, in clause 69, page 68, line 22, at end insert— ‘( )section 13; ( )section 14;’.

• Clause 70 Extent

  2 speeches

  Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• New Clause 1 Content of election address

  12 speeches

  ‘(1)Section 91 of the 1983 Act (parliamentary election rules) is amended as follows. (2)After subsection 1(b) insert— “( )If, and only if, the universal service provider...

• New Clause 3 Absent and overseas voters

  3 speeches

  ‘(1)The Secretary of State shall, within 12 months of the enactment of this Act lay regulations— (a)providing that overseas voters’ ballot papers may be delivered to a British...

• New Clause 4 Extra provision for collection of postal votes

  8 speeches

  ‘There shall be available in each constituency until, and including, polling day, a ballot box at which postal votes may be cast in person.’. —[Mrs. Laing.]

• New Clause 6 Challenging election results

  13 speeches

  ‘The ongoing conduct of a police investigation into an election shall not prevent such election result being capable of being challenged by way of an election petition.’.—[Mrs....