REFERENDUM EXPENSES: QUALIFYING EXPENSES

HC Deb 16 February 2000 vol 344 cc1005-6

Question proposed, That this schedule be the Twelfth schedule to the Bill.

Mr. Walter

The schedule, which deals with qualifying expenses in a referendum, seems reasonable, but as I read through it I become a little confused. We are given a list of expenses, including those incurred in referendum campaign broadcasts, advertising of any nature, and unsolicited material addressed to electors (whether addressed to them by name or intended for delivery to households within any particular area or areas). The list of exclusions in paragraph 2, however, says: Nothing in paragraph 1 shall be taken as extending to… (b) any expenses in respects of unsolicited material sent to supporters of the referendum campaign". 7.30 pm

I am not sure of the distinction between the two types of unsolicited material. Those fighting a referendum campaign usually start from the presumption that everybody is a supporter of their cause. So perhaps they do not have to count against their expenditure limits the expense of sending material to those whom they perceive to be their supporters.

Also among the exclusions are any expenses in respect of newsletters or similar publications issued by or on behalf of the campaign organiser with a view to giving electors in a particular electoral area information about the opinions or activities of, or other personal information relating to, their elected representatives or existing or prospective candidates". At first I thought that the sub-paragraph had strayed from another part of the Bill. In fact, it means that as long as newsletters tell one something about the views of one's local elected representative, expense incurred in sending them does not count as the campaign expenditure of an organisation campaigning in a referendum. One can therefore imagine an awful lot of newsletters going out in a referendum. Will the Minister give me some guidance, particularly on the exclusions?

Another exclusion is: any expenses incurred in respect of the remuneration or allowances payable to any member of the permanent staff of the campaign organiser". That means that such staff are no longer an expense in the referendum. I can understand the exclusions covering any reasonable expenses incurred in respect of an individual by way of travelling expenses…or in providing for his accommodation or other personal needs", but fail to see why expenditure on publications and newsletters, on unsolicited material and in respect of remuneration of staff should be excluded.

Paragraph 2 is another example of dilution of what we thought were ground rules on campaign expenditure. Indeed, two sub-paragraphs—on unsolicited material addressed to electors and on unsolicited material sent to supporters—appear to be contradictory. Electors and supporters can be one and the same thing.

Mr. Tipping

The hon. Gentleman will recognise that schedule 12 almost exactly mirrors schedule 7, which we have had the opportunity to discuss. I am grateful to him for drawing our attention to paragraph 2 and, incidentally, to similar provisions in schedule 7. During our debate upstairs, I said on a number of occasions that I would like to reflect on the matter. The hon. Gentleman has made important points. There may have been some drafting errors. I am grateful for his points; I will write to him and, if necessary, correct matters later.

Question put and agreed to.

Schedule 12 agreed to.