Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill — Special restrictions on referendum expenses by permitted participants — 16 Feb 2000

Clause 98 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 99 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 100 and 101 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

I beg to move amendment No. 13, in page 64, line 28, at end insert--

'(5A) In making any designation of a permitted participant under section 101(2) or (4) the Commission shall have regard to

(i) the separate levels of support for each of the permitted participants which have given notice under section 99(1)(b) or section 99(3)(b) that they propose to campaign for the same outcome, and

(ii) evidence submitted to it by any permitted participants relating to their principal reasons for campaigning for that outcome.

(5B) Where the Commission is satisfied that more than one permitted participant has demonstrated

(a) substantial support, and

(b) a distinct "principal reason" for campaigning for the same outcome, and

(c) that it would be unreasonable to refuse designation under section 101(1),

it may designate 2 or more permitted participants for assistance under section 103.

(5C) Where the Commission makes any designation under subsection (5C) above, they shall make such an apportionment of eligibility for assistance between the designated permitted participants as they think fit.'.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn .

I beg to move amendment No. 49, in page 64, line 32, leave out "shorter or".

This is a small amendment that can be considered without having to consider some of the wider issues that were before us earlier. Nevertheless, it cannot be completely divorced from those issues, because it

16 Feb 2000 : Column 998

concerns the power that clause 102 gives the Secretary of State to vary the periods that are provided for in that clause. It may be worth setting out briefly what this part of the Bill aims to do.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 102 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 103 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, That this schedule be the Eleventh schedule to the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Schedule 11 agreed to.

Clause 104 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, That this schedule be the Twelfth schedule to the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Schedule 12 agreed to.

I beg to move amendment No. 50, in page 66, line 2, leave out "£100" and insert "£200".

The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr. Michael Lord):

With this, it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 51, in clause 107, page 67, line 10, leave out "£100" and insert "£200".

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 105, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 106 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 107 ordered to stand part of the Bill .

I beg to move amendment No. 8, in page 67, line 30, leave out '30' and insert '42'.

The amendment constitutes plagiarism. Similar amendments, originally tabled by the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell), were made to parallel clauses 70 and 85. We accepted his amendments then, and I am happy to move amendment No. 8 now.

Mr. Stunell:

I wish to put on record that the Minister has been helpful and constructive throughout our proceedings. He has not always given us what we wanted--perhaps not even most of what we wanted--but he has always listened carefully. I appreciate his adoption of our amendment, which we tabled early in our proceedings. It provides an opportunity for organisations that make returns to get their paperwork done. Those organisations are often small and inevitably involve human frailty. I am pleased that the Minister has accepted the amendment.

Amendment agreed to .

Clause 108, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill .

Clause 109 ordered to stand part of the Bill .

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 110 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

It being Ten o'clock, The Chairman left the Chair to report progress and ask leave to sit again.

Committee report progress.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business),

That, at this day's sitting, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.-- [Mr. Kevin Hughes.]

Question agreed to.

Question again proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Question put, That the clause stand part of the Bill:--

The Committee divided: Ayes 334, Noes 137.

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