HC Deb 14 March 2000 vol 346 cc267-8
Mr. Tipping

I beg to move amendment No. 125, in page 173, line 22, leave out— 'In section 3(8)(a) of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978' and insert— '(1) The European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978 (as amended by the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1999) is amended as follows. (2) In section 3(8)(a)'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 126, 128 to 130 and 134.

Mr. Tipping

This group of six amendments makes consequential changes to the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978, the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998, arising from part V. Each of those three statutes makes arrangements for the control of election expenditure by registered parties. The detailed arrangements for that, which are set out in subordinate legislation, were intended as stop-gap measures pending the enactment of the Bill.

Henceforth, campaign expenditure by registered parties at elections to the European and Scottish Parliaments and the Welsh Assembly will be controlled by part V. Accordingly, the powers to regulate such expenditure in those three statutes are no longer necessary and will be repealed by the amendments.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 126, in page 173, line 25, at end insert— '(3) In paragraph 2(3A)(a) of Schedule 1 (European Parliamentary elections), for "(including expenses incurred in relation to a general election as a whole)" substitute "of candidates".'.

No. 127, in page 173, line 36, at end insert— '(5) In Schedule 1 (parliamentary elections rules), at the end of rule 14 (publication of statement of persons nominated) insert— (5) The returning officer shall send to the Electoral Commission—

  1. (a) a copy of the statement; and
  2. (b) in the case of each candidate standing nominated in respect of whom a certificate has been received by the returning officer in accordance with rule 6A above, a copy of that certificate as well." '.

No. 128, in page 174, line 37, at end insert— '(2A) In section 11(2)(c) (power to make provision about elections) omit "and registered political parties".'.

No. 129, in page 175, line 18, leave out— 'In section 5(9) of the Scotland Act 1998'

and insert— '(1) The Scotland Act 1998 is amended as follows. (2) In section 5(9)'.

No. 130, in page 175, line 20, at end insert— '(3) In section 12(2)(c) (power to make provision about elections) omit "and registered political parties".'.

No. 131, in page 175, line 34, at end insert— Representation of the People Act 2000 (c.00) 14.—(1) Section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 2000 (pilot schemes) is amended as follows. (2) After subsection (1) insert— (1A) Subsection (1) applies to proposals falling within that subsection which are submitted by a relevant local authority jointly with the Electoral Commission as if in that subsection—

  1. (a) the first reference to any such authority in paragraph (a), and
  2. (b) the reference to the authority in paragraph (b)(ii),
were each a reference to the authority and the Commission; and, in a case where any such proposals are not jointly so submitted, the Secretary of State must consult the Commission before making an order under that subsection. (3) In subsection (5)(a), after "the authority concerned" insert "and to the Electoral Commission". (4) In subsection (6), for "the authority concerned" substitute "the Electoral Commission". (5) After subsection (6) insert— (6A) The report shall be prepared by the Electoral Commission in consultation with the authority concerned; and that authority shall provide the Commission with such assistance as they may reasonably require in connection with the preparation of the report (which may, in particular, include the making by the authority of arrangements for ascertaining the views of voters about the operation of the scheme). (6) In subsection (7), after "The report shall" insert ", in particular,". (7) For subsection (10) substitute— (10) Once the Electoral Commission have prepared the report, they shall send a copy of the report—
  1. (a) to the Secretary of State, and
  2. (b) to the authority concerned,
and that authority shall publish the report in their area, in such manner as they think fit, by the end of the period of three months beginning with the date of the declaration of the result of the elections in question. 15. In section 11 of that Act (revision of procedures in the light of pilot schemes), at the end of subsection (1) insert— The power of the Secretary of State to make such an order shall, however, be exercisable only on a recommendation of the Electoral Commission." '. —[Mr. Touhig.]

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