43

House of Commons

Thursday 6th November 2008

Public Bill Committee

New Amendments handed in are marked thus

Amendments which will comply with the required notice period at their next appearance

Political Parties and Elections Bill

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Note

The Amendments have been arranged in accordance with the Order of the

Committee [4th November 2008].

Mrs Eleanor Laing

16

Clause  4,  page  3,  line  24,  at end insert ‘in accordance with Commissioner for

Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.’.

Mrs Eleanor Laing

15

Clause  5,  page  3,  line  35,  after ‘(d)’, insert ‘(i) and (ii)’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

79

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  7,  after ‘the’, insert ‘sole’.

Public Bill Committee: 6th November 2008

44

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

2

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  10,  leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘shall’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

81

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  13,  leave out ‘, or is sufficient’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

38

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  16,  at end add—

‘(4)	In the 2000 Act section 13 (which makes provision about the promotion of the

electoral and democratic system by the Electoral Commission) is repealed.’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

10

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  3,  leave out subsection (3).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

102

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  15,  leave out sub-sub-paragraph (1)(d).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

86

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  23,  after ‘may’, insert ‘only’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

87

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  24,  after ‘been’, insert ‘, within the 5 years immediately

prior to the date of the notice,’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

88

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  26,  at end insert ‘and whom the Commission have

reasonable suspicion to believe has committed an offence under this Act.’.

Public Bill Committee: 6th November 2008

45

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

89

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  26,  at end insert—

‘(2A)

A disclosure notice must be served on the individual specified in paragraph (2)

by hand by a person specifically authorised by the Commission to effect the

service of such notices.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

90

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  30,  leave out ‘any’ and insert ‘information or’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

91

Schedule  1,  page  13,  line  34,  leave out from ‘of’ to end and insert ‘investigating an

offence under this Act.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

92

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  2,  at end insert—

‘(3A)

A person served with a disclosure notice under paragraph (2) may appeal to the

Commission in writing within 14 days of receipt of service under paragraph

(2A).’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

93

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  4,  leave out from ‘within’ to end and insert ‘28 days of

receipt of that disclosure notice.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

94

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  5,  leave out sub-paragraph (5).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

95

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  6,  leave out ‘their functions’ and insert ‘an investigation

where they have reasonable suspicion that an offence under this Act involving in excess

of £10,000 has been committed.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

96

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  7,  after ‘enter’, insert ‘, only with authorisation by a

warrant issued under paragraph 3 of this Schedule and when accompanied by a police

constable,’.

Public Bill Committee: 6th November 2008

46

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

97

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘(6)	For the purposes of this Schedule a person authorised by the Commission is a

person who has express written authority of the Commission to act on its

behalf and is one of the following—

(a)	an employee of managerial level of the Electoral Commission;

(b)	a member of a police force in England and Wales;

(c)	a constable of a police force in Scotland; or

(d)	a member of the Police Service for Northern Ireland.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

98

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘(6)	A person authorised by the Commission (who is not a police constable) may

not use any force to enter premises, but a police constable may use such

reasonable force only as is necessary to gain entrance to the premises.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

99

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  22,  leave out sub-paragraph (2).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

100

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  32,  leave out sub-paragraph (3).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

103

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  1,  leave out ‘justice of the peace’ and insert ‘judge in the

High Court’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

12

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  2,  after ‘may’, insert ‘, subject to sub-paragraph (1A),’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

101

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  6,  after ‘Act’, insert ‘involving in excess of £10,000.’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

13

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  11,  at end insert—

‘(1A)

A justice of the peace may not issue a warrant under this paragraph in respect

of any premises used by a holder of a relevant elective office.’.

Public Bill Committee: 6th November 2008

47

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

25

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  41,  leave out ‘three months’ and insert ‘42 days from the

date on which they were seized.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

26

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  45,  leave out from ‘within’ to ‘proceedings’ and insert

‘42 days from the date on which they were seized.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

27

Schedule  1,  page  16,  line  2,  at end insert—

‘(2A)

The Commission may apply a magistrates court to extend this 42 day period by a

further 14 days where they can prove on reasonable grounds that the continued

retention of such documents is vital to the investigation into offences under this

Act which involve in excess of £10,000.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

28

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  13,  at end insert—

‘(2)	Where originals have been removed from premises, the Commission must take

all reasonable steps to provide the individual or organisation with copies of those

documents within 24 hours.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

29

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  23,  at end insert ‘and leave a copy of such authorisation

of warrant with that person.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

30

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  34,  after ‘any’, insert ‘reasonable’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

14

Schedule  1,  page  19,  line  6,  at end add—

‘13	The Commission shall lay before Parliament, on a quarterly basis, reports

specifying how it has exercised its powers under this Schedule.’.

Public Bill Committee: 6th November 2008

48

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

85

Clause  3,  page  2,  line  26,  at end insert—

‘(1A)

The Secretary of State, after consulting the Electoral Commission, shall make an

order that specifies what discretionary requirements may be imposed by the

Electoral Commission under Part 2 of Schedule 19B.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

82

Clause  3,  page  2,  line  33,  leave out ‘£20,000’ and insert ‘statutory maximum’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

83

Clause  3,  page  2,  line  35,  leave out ‘£20,000’ and insert ‘statutory maximum’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

84

Clause  3,  page  3,  line  9,  leave out from ‘Parliament’ to end of line.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

31

Schedule  2,  page  19,  line  17,  leave out subsection (b).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

32

Schedule  2,  page  19,  line  24,  leave out subsection (b).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

33

Schedule  2,  page  19,  line  31,  leave out subsection (b).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

34

Schedule  2,  page  19,  line  38,  leave out subsection (b).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

35

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  3,  at end insert ‘within 28 days of receipt of the notice

under paragraph 2(4).’.

Public Bill Committee: 6th November 2008

49

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

36

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  20,  at end insert ‘within the period specified under

paragraph 3(2)(a).’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

1

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  25,  at end insert ‘and may by notice require the

Commission to withdraw the notice and pursue the matter as a criminal offence under the

relevant provisions.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

37

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  25,  at end insert ‘at any point during the period specified

in paragraph 3(2).’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

64

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  31,  leave out sub-paragraph (5).

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

65

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  38,  leave out from ‘penalty’ to end of line 39 and insert

‘at any point within 28 days of receipt of the notice under paragraph 2(4).’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

66

Schedule  2,  page  20,  line  44,  leave out ‘a county court’ and insert ‘the High Court’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

67

Schedule  2,  page  21,  line  5,  leave out ‘effect of’ and insert ‘ability to discharge a

person’s liability by’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

68

Schedule  2,  page  21,  line  6,  at end insert ‘provided payment is received within the

period specified in paragraph 3(2)(a).’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

69

Schedule  2,  page  21,  line  11,  after first ‘the’, insert ‘date of commencement of the’.

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Revised 6 November 2008