Amendments proposed to the Referendums Bill - continued	House of Commons
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Referendums to which sections 2 and 3 apply

   

Dr Nick Palmer

NC4

To move the following Clause:—

    'Sections 2 and 3 above apply where the bill which provides for the holding of the referendum—

(a) specifies those categories of person who may vote in the referendum (which may include persons not entitled to vote in a general election or may exclude persons entitled to vote in a general election);

(b) where the cost of the referendum is not to be met out of money provided by Parliament, specifies by whom the cost is to be met; and

(c) where the result of the referendum is not to be decided by a simple majority, specifies how the result is to be determined.'.

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Expenditure by referendum campaigns

   

Dr Nick Palmer

NC5

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—(1) Subject to subsection (4) below, it shall be an offence for a designated referendum campaign to spend—

(a) in support of; or

(b) in opposition to

    any of the possible outcomes of a referendum to which this Act applies more than twice the amount awarded as a payment under section 3.

    (2) Subject to subsection (5) below, it shall be an offence for any referendum campaign which has not been designated under section 2 to spend more than £1,000—

(a) in support of; or

(b) in opposition to

    any of the possible outcomes of a referendum to which this Act applies.

    (3) In seeking to determine compliance with the provisions of this section, the Commission may require any person or organisation to submit an account of expenditure in connection with a referendum to which this Act applies.

    (4) Expenditure by an organisation on communicating with its members shall not count as expenditure for the purposes of subsection (1) above.

    (5) A financial contribution by a referendum campaign to a designated referendum campaign shall not count as expenditure for the purposes of subsection (2) above.

    (6) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to a fine of an amount equal to not more than four times the amount spent in excess of the permitted amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both.'.

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Prepared 12 May 1999