§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any contribution financial or other made by the building industry or any enterprise or institution or body directly or indirectly involved with it or any part of it to any political party, directly or indirectly, before or during the period leading up to the last general election; if so, to which party and by which body and what were the sums involved; and if not, whether they can state with certainty that no such contributions were made.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)The Government are aware that parts of the building industry have made contributions to political parties. However, Government departments do not maintain records of such contributions in the form and detail requested. Schedule 7 of the Companies Act 1985 requires companies that have given in excess of £200 for political purposes in a financial year to record in the directors' report the identity of the part and the amount covering the last general election.