HC Deb 02 April 1984 vol 57 c782
Mr. Alan Clark

I beg to move amendment No. 40, in page 17, line 1, leave out from beginning to 'any' in line 2 and insert—

  1. '(e) on the holding of any conference or meeting by or on behalf of a political party or of.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)

With this it will be convenient to take Government amendment No. 41.

Mr. Evans

Amendment No. 40 refers to questions that I raised in Committee about those members of trade unions who would be lobbying at, for instance, a party conference, where they would be seeking to impress upon delegates their views on political subjects. Is there any difference between this amendment and that which we moved in Committee which sought to delete the words, "in connection with" and substitute the words, "on the holding of'? I am sure that there is no significance in this, but will the Minister tell us why he could not accept our amendment in Committee and why he has had to extend the wording? I am only seeking information.

Mr. Alan Clark

I can put the hon. Gentleman's mind at rest. There is no special magic in the phraseology that we have chosen. The amendment is designed to meet the concern that the Opposition expressed in Committee that the clause should cover the expenses of observers and lobbyists at party conferences who might legitimately be sent there by unions which do not have political funds.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 41, in page 17, line 11, at end insert— '(3A) Where a person attends a conference or meeting as a delegate or otherwise as a participator in the proceedings, any expenditure incurred in connection with his attendance as such shall, for the purposes of subsection (3)(e) above, be taken to be expenditure incurred on the holding of the conference or meeting. '—[Mr. Alan Clark.]

Bill to be read the Third time this day.