§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
When will the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 come into force. [HL536]
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§ Lord Bassam of BrightonA number of the provisions came into force on Royal Assent or on dates fixed by the Act. We have today made a commencement order bringing into force the majority of the remaining provisions of the Act.
The controls on donations to political parties and on election campaign expenditure by political parties and third parties will be among those that come into force on 16 February 2001. A registered political party will be required to submit its first quarterly donations report (detailing donations above £5,000 accepted by the party's central organisation and donations above £1,000 accepted at local level) to the Electoral commission by 30 April 2001, whereupon it will by published. Returns as to election spending will normally need to be submitted to the commission within three months of the date of an election or within six months where the return is required to be audited (because the expenditure exceeds £250,000). Other provisions of the Act will come into force on 16 March and 1 July 2001.
The commencement dates for the provisions covered by the order, or which are already in force, are set out in the tables:
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Section/Schedule of Act Timing of Commencement Part I (The Electoral Commission) Sections 1 to 3 and Schedules 1 and 2 (The Electoral Commission and Speaker's Committee) On Royal Assent (i.e. on 30 November 2000) Sections 4 (Parliamentary Parties Panel); 5 (Reports on elections and referendums); 6 [except subsection (l)(c) & (d)] (Reviews of electoral and political matters); 7 (Commission to be consulted on changes to electoral law); 8 (Powers with respect to elections exercisable only on Commission recommendation); 10 (Giving advice and assistance); 11 (Broadcasters to have regard to Commission's views in party political broadcasts); 12 (Policy development grants); and 21 (Interpretation of Part I). 16 February 2001 Sections 9 (Involvement of Commission in changes in electoral procedures); and 13 (Education about electoral and democratic systems) 1 July 2001 Part II (Registration of Political Parties) Sections 22 (Parties to be registered in order to field candidates); 23 (The new registers); 24 to 27 (Preliminary requirements); 28 to 35 (Registration) and 37 to 40 (Supplemental) and Schedule 4 (Applications under Part II). 16 Febuary 2001 Section 36 (Assistance by the Commission for existing registered parties) Two weeks after Royal Assent (i.e. on 14 December 2000) Part IV (Control of donations to registered parties and their members etc.)—Sections 50 to 71 and Schedules 6 and 7 16 February 2001
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Section/Schedule of Act Timing of Commencement Part V (Control of campaign expenditure)—Sections 72 to 84 and Schedules 8 and 9 16 February 2001 Part VI (Controls relating to third party national election campaigns)—Sections 85 to 100 and Schedules 10 and 11 16 February 2001 Part VII (Referendums)—Sections 101 to 129 and Schedules 12 to 25 16 February 2001 Part VIII (Election campaigns and proceedings— Section 130 and Schedule 16 (Control of donations to candidates), Section 132(2) to (4) and (6) (Financial limits applying to candidates' election expenses); Section 134 (Meaning of "election expenses"); 135 (Meaning of "candidate"); and paragraphs 3 to 5,7,10, 11 (a), (b)&(d), 15 & 16 of Schedule 18. 1 July 2001 Sections 131 (Election expenses incurred otherwise than by candidate); 132(1) & (5) (Financial limits applying to candidates' election expenses); 133 (Power to vary provisions about election expenses); 136 (Corrupt and illegal practices; consequences for persons convicted of such practices); 137 and Schedule 17 (Corrupt and illegal practices; election petitions etc.); and 138 and paragraphs 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 1l(c). 12 to 14, and 17 to 19 of Schedule 18 (Election campaigns and proceedings: miscellaneous amendments) 16 February 2001 Part IX (Political donations and expenditure by companies)— Sections 139 and 140 and Schedule 19 16 February 2001 Part X (Miscellaneous and General) Sections 142 (Pre-consolidation amendments); 143 (Details to appear on election material); 145 to 148 (Enforcement of Act); 149 (Inspection of Commission's registers etc.); 150 to 154 and Schedule 20 (Provisions relating to offences); 155 (Power to vary specified sums); 157 (Documents for purposes of the Act); 158 (Minor and consequential amendments and repeals); 161 (Interpretation: donations); and 162 (Interpretation: exempt trust donations). 16 February 2001 Section 144 (Broadcasting of local items during election period) 16 March 2001 Sections 156 (Orders and regulations); 159 (Financial provisions); 160 (General interpretation) and 163 (Short title, commencement, transitional provisions and extent) and Part II of Schedule 23 (Other transitional provisions) On Royal Assent (i.e. on 30th November 2000)
Section/Schedule of Act Timing of Commencement Schedule 21 (Minor and consequential amendments) Paragraphs: 1 to 5; 6(1), (5), (6), (7)(b) & (c), (8) 16 February &(9); 8 to 11, 12(2) & (13); and 13 to 15. 1 July 2001 Paragraphs: 6(2) & (7)(d) and 16 to 18 On Royal Assent (i.e. on 30 November 2000) Paragraphs: 12(2) & (3) Schedule 22 (Repeals) As with corresponding provisions Part I of Schedule 23 (Transfer of Registration of existing registered parties). Two weeks after Royal Assent (i.e. on 14 December 2000) Those provisions of the Act not listed in the table will be brought into force by means of one or more subsequent commencement orders at a date or dates to be announced.