§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he has consulted, and what representations he has received, about the amount specified in the Electoral Commission (Limit on Public Awareness Expenditure) Order 2001. [158420]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe limit of £1.5 million specified in the Electoral Commission (Limit on Public Awareness Expenditure) Order 2001 reflects the estimate for expenditure under this heading, for 2001–02, proposed by the Commission and approved by the Speaker's Committee in accordance with paragraph 14 of Schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. As required by section 13(6) of the Act, the Order was made with the consent of the Treasury. We have received no representations about the amount specified in the Order. Consideration will be given to making a further Order in due course to take effect from 1 April 2002.
§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the Electoral Commission's rules for making grants under section 13(4)(b) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. [158421]
§ Mr. BeithI have been asked to reply on behalf of the Speaker's Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the exercise of the Electoral Commission's functions.
Section 13(4)(b), in common with the other provisions of section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, does not come into force until 1 July 2001. I understand from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission that no decisions have yet been made as to how the Commission will exercise its grant-making powers under section 13. No rules have been prepared for this purpose, nor is there any requirement under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act for the Commission to make such rules.