Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill

HC Deb 27 March 2000 vol 347 cc3-4W

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costs relating to the establishment of the Electoral Commission will be met in advance of Royal Assent being given to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill. [116668]

Mr. Straw

It is in the public interest to ensure that the Commission is functioning at the earliest opportunity. I have made clear my wish that it should be up and running by this November. To meet this tight timetable, some costs such as those relating to the recruitment of the commissioners will necessarily be incurred before Royal Assent.

Parliamentary approval to this service will be sought in a main estimate for the Electoral Commission Vote (Class XVIII, C, Vote 1). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £300,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.