Appendix 3: Letter of 9 January 2006 to
the Chairman from the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional
Affairs
Following my letter to you of 21 November, and with
apologies for the short notice, I am pleased to be able to enclose
the amendment that we have tabled for debate at Report on the
Electoral Administration Bill due to take place on 11 January.
Unfortunately the technical issues regarding devolution
that I referred to in my previous letter have not been resolved
satisfactorily in time for an amendment covering all holders of
relevant elective office—Members of Parliament, Members
of the European Parliament, members of devolved administrations,
and local councillors—to be tabled. The amendment therefore
only covers Members of Parliament.
We are tabling this amendment at this stage as we
believe that it is right and proper that Members of the House
have an opportunity to debate this matter, which once again we
thank you for bringing to our attention. I look forward to the
debate on this matter, which will allow Members to fully consider
the implications of any such change.
We are still committed to resolving this issue for
all holders of relevant elective office, and will bring forward
an amendment to this effect later in the Parliamentary passage
of the Electoral Administration Bill, dependent on the resolution
of the technical issues surrounding devolution.
I would like to thank you once again for your Committee's
work on this and indeed many other important issues, and underline
our commitment to the governing principles underlying the regulatory
system.
9 January 2006 Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP
Electoral Administration Bill, New Clause 15
Reporting donations to members of the House of
Commons
Ms Harriet Harman NC15
To move the following Clause:—
'(1) Schedule 7 (control of donations to individuals
and member associations) to the 2000 Act is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 10, after sub-paragraph (7)
insert—
"(8) This paragraph does not apply to a
donation received by a member of the House of Commons.
(9) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (8),
it is immaterial whether the donation is made to the member of
the House of Commons in that capacity or in his capacity as a
member of a registered party."
(3) In part 5 of the Schedule, after paragraph
15 insert—
"Donations to members of the House of Commons
15A (1) This paragraph applies in relation
to donations received by a member of the House of Commons if—
(a) the House of Commons has in place arrangements
requiring the member to report such donations, and
(b) the Commission think that the arrangements
correspond to the requirements of paragraph 10.
(2) The Commission must make such arrangements
as they think appropriate corresponding to section 69 as modified
in pursuance of paragraph 15(3) to maintain a register of such
information as they receive relating to such donations."
(4) The Secretary of State must not make an order
under section 69 for the purposes of this section as it applies
to members of the House of Commons unless he is informed by the
Commission that they are satisfied that they will receive the
information mentioned in paragraph 15A(2) of that Schedule (as
inserted by subsection (3) above) in relation to such members.'.
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