§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, answering on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how the Electoral Commission proposes to divide the sum of £1.5 million allowed in the Electoral Commission (Limit on Public Awareness Expenditure) Order 2001 between promoting public awareness of(a) electoral systems, (b) systems of Government and (c) the institutions of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [159974]
§ Mr. BeithThe provisions of section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 do not come into force until 1 July 2001. I understand from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission that, to date, no decisions have been taken as to the division of the £1.5 million available for 2001–02 between the three purposes specified in section 13 of the Act. Information about the Commission's spending plans under section 13 will be published later in the year, and copies placed in the Libraries of both Houses.