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Political Parties and Elections Bill

I have little to add to what I have said but it is important to thank the noble Baroness, Lady Gould, once again, for her input. She answered the point of the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, very well and has completely stolen what I was going to say. But I shall say it again anyway. The issue of political sensitivity is covered by the proposed new sub-paragraph (3)(b) in Amendment 77. I take the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Tyler, that the issue is about the kind of people who will be recruited. When someone who has been politically active becomes a public servant, that individual has to have a change of mind because he is now a public servant. The restrictions, the varying times and so on are meant to help in that, but it is also about the way people think. As to the direct route request, yes this applies only to the staff of the commission; yes it is correct that the final decision will be made by the chief executive; and no, I am afraid I do not have any examples at hand. The enforcement point is interesting and we will certainly think on it as a result of today’s debate.