Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Monday, 6 November 2006 on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.

Election Expenditure

Question: When Sir Hayden Phillips has finished his review, which we understand may be at about the turn of the year, does the hon. Gentleman anticipate that the Electoral Commission and the Speaker’s Committee will examine not just whether we ought to reduce the total limit of campaign expenditure, which the public want, and whether the official election campaign should have a slightly larger limit, but whether to stop the huge expenditure in support of an individual candidate before the general election begins? The public have shown no appetite for that activity, which seems to be wasteful of public expenditure and party funds. It would be a service if the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues recommended strongly that that expenditure should be capped at a pretty low level.

Answer: The Electoral Commission has been involved in a range of initiatives in support of Sir Hayden Phillips’ review, and that is precisely one of the issues on which it has focused.

Secondary information