Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 May 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 May 2005. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 May 2005 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Untitled Written question

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make it an offence for candidates for parliamentary elections to use children in their election addresses where the children are shown wearing uniforms of schools they do not attend and where the school in question has not given permission.

Answer: The Government have no plans to introduce legislation covering these specific circumstances. Section 91 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, currently provides that material used in election addresses should relate to the election only. The Government believe that the Representation of the People Act 1983, along with the existing laws governing publications and copyright already cover possible complaints about the contents of election addresses. As a matter of principle, the Government do not believe that it would be appropriate to prescribe too closely what candidates may or may not include in their election communications.

Secondary information