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21 Jan 2009 : Column 1568W—continued

Political Parties: Finance

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the de minimis £200 threshold for recording political donations contained in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 would be now if it had been indexed to (a) the gross domestic product deflator and (b) average earnings since its introduction. [249081]

Mr. Wills: The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) received Royal Assent in the final quarter of 2000. Using that as the starting point and the third quarter of 2008 as the end point for the comparison, £200 in 2000 would now be worth £245 if indexed to the gross domestic product deflator. If indexed to whole economy average earnings, £200 in 2000 would now be worth £269.

As I indicated in a previous answer on 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 518W, the Government will consider whether it is appropriate to raise the £200 threshold for recording donations contained in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, and we are open to representations on this point.

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