House of Commons Public Bill Committee Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
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Other Bills before Parliament

5

House of Commons

Tuesday 11th November 2008

Public Bill Committee Proceedings

Political Parties and Elections Bill

[Fourth and Fifth Sittings]

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  16

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

Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.’.

Clause Agreed to.

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  15

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

Pete Wishart

Withdrawn  112

Clause  5,  page  3,  line  39,  leave out ‘Four’.

Pete Wishart

Not called  113

Clause  5,  page  3,  line  40,  leave out from ‘(1)’ to ‘the’.

Pete Wishart

Not called  114

Clause  5,  page  3,  line  41,  after ‘party’, insert ‘shall’, and after ‘forward’, insert ‘a

person’.

Pete Wishart

Not called  115

Clause  5,  page  4,  line  6,  leave out ‘three of the’.

Pete Wishart

Not called  116

Clause  5,  page  4,  line  7,  leave out ‘three largest’ and insert ‘qualifying’.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 11th November 2008
6

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  105

Clause  5,  page  4,  line  8,  at end insert ‘and the registered heads of the three largest

nominating parties at that time shall be required to make such a nomination.’.

David Howarth

Negatived on division  108

Clause  5,  page  4,  line  15,  at end insert—

‘(4A)
If a nominating party as mentioned in subsection (3) fails to put forward two

persons to be considered for appointment as a nominated commissioner when

requested to do so, the next largest party at the time shall be treated for the

purpose of the particular appointment, and for the purposes of this subsection, as

one of the three largest nominating parties.’.

Pete Wishart

Negatived on division  111

Clause  5,  page  4,  line  21,  at end insert—

‘(6A)
A nominated Commissioner may not participate, deliberate or adjudicate in any

enforcement action or procedure involving, whether directly or otherwise, the

party whose registered leader put forward the Commissioner’s appointment.’.

Pete Wishart

Not called  117

Clause  5,  page  4,  line  22,  leave out subsection (7).

Pete Wishart

Not selected  109

Page  3,  line  32,  leave out Clause 5.

Clause Agreed to on division.

Pete Wishart

Not selected  110

Page  4,  line  39,  leave out Clause 6.

Clause Agreed to.

Clause 7 Agreed to.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  79

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

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 11th November 2008
7

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Nick Ainger

Negatived on division  2

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

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  81

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

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  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.’.

Clause Agreed to.

Nick Ainger

Not selected  130

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  5,  leave out second column and insert ‘A fine of £5,000 for

registered parties and £1,000 for an accounting unit of a registered political party.’.

Nick Ainger

Not selected  131

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  8,  leave out second column and insert ‘A fine of £5,000 for

registered parties and £1,000 for an accounting unit of a registered political party.’.

Nick Ainger

Not selected  132

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  11,  column  2,  leave out from beginning to end of line 18

and insert ‘A fine of £5,000 for registered parties and £1,000 for an accounting unit of a

registered political party.’.

Clause Agreed to.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  102

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

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 11th November 2008
8

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  86

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

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  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

Not called  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.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  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

Not called  90

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

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  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

Not called  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

Not called  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

Withdrawn  94

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

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 11th November 2008
9

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  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

Not called  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,’.

Mr Michael Wills

Agreed to  122

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


‘This is subject to paragraph 2(6).’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  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

Not called  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

Withdrawn  99

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

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  100

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

Mr Michael Wills

Agreed to  123

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  45,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 11th November 2008
10

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

    ‘(6)
The power conferred by paragraph 1(5) may not be used to enter premises and

inspect documents for the purposes of an investigation by the Commission of

the suspected offence or contravention.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  103

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

High Court’.

Nick Ainger

Not selected  137

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  2,  leave out from beginning to first ‘on’ in line 3 and

insert ‘The Electoral Commission may on notice apply to the High Court for an order,

subject to sub-paragraph (1A),’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

Nick Ainger

Not called  12

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

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  101

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

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis MacShane

Not selected  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.’.

Mr Fabian Hamilton

Mr Denis McShane

Nick Ainger

Not selected  150

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

  ‘(1A)
A court may not issue a warrant under this paragraph in respect of any premises

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

Nick Ainger

Not selected  139

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  19,  leave out ‘A warrant’ and insert ‘An order’.

Nick Ainger

Not selected  138

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  31,  leave out ‘A warrant’ and insert ‘An order’.

Mr Michael Wills

Agreed to  124

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  38,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 11th November 2008
11

Political Parties and Elections Bill, continued

‘Authorisation of application for warrant under paragraph 3

    (1)
An application for a warrant under paragraph 3 may not be made without the

written authorisation of—

(a)
the chief executive of the Commission, or

(b)
where the office of chief executive is vacant or the chief executive is

absent or unable to act, a member of the staff of the Commission who

has previously been designated by the chief executive for the purposes

of this paragraph and whose designation is still in force.

      (2)
A person may be designated under sub-paragraph (1)(b) only if the chief

executive considers the person to be suitable having regard to the person’s

experience and level of seniority as a member of the staff of the Commission.’.

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Withdrawn  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

Not called  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

Not called  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.’.

[Adjourned till Thursday at 9.00 a.m.