§ Lord Reay rose to move that the draft order laid before the House on 5th March be approved [15th Report from the Joint Committee].
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move that the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 1991, a draft of which was laid before Parliament on 5th March, be approved. The draft order increases the limits on candidates' election expenses at parliamentary and local government elections, to take account of inflation.
§
The draft order was approved by another place on Tuesday 26th March. The existing limits were set in April 1989. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State has power under Section 76A of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to vary the sum specified in Section 76,
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where in his opinion there has been a change in the value of money
since the last occasion on which the sums were fixed and when the variation is
such as in his opinion is justified by that change".
§
After nearly two years, it seems to us to be reasonable to increase the limits. The retail prices index has been used to indicate the
change in the value of money
between 10th April 1989 and 31st December 1990, the latest date for which figures were available when the order was drafted. The level of increase proposed is about 13.6 per cent.
§ Increases in the maximum levels of candidates' expenses normally follow consultation with the main political parties and local authority associations. This occasion is no exception. The recently-convened Consultative Group on Candidates' Expenses (set up to look into the whole question of election expenses and consisting of representatives from the political parties and local authority associations, under Home Office chairmanship) took the unanimous view at its meeting on 29th January that the maxima at both parliamentary and local government elections should be increased to take account of inflation since April 1989, and that the increases should come into force before the elections on 2nd May. The order will, therefore, give effect to the wishes of the consultative group. In the circumstances, I hope that it will meet with the approval of the House. I commend the order to the House.
§ Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 5th March be approved [15th Report from the Joint Committee].—(Lord Reay.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.