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Political Parties and Elections Bill

Amendment 97 97: After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause— ""Reasonable excuse" in relation to certain offences under the 2000 Act (1) The 2000 Act is amended as follows. (2) In section 47 (failure by registered party to submit proper statement of accounts to Commission)— (a) in paragraph (a) of subsection (1), after "are" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (b) in paragraph (b) of that subsection, after "is" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (c) subsections (2) and (3) are omitted. (3) In section 65 (submission of donation reports to Commission)— (a) in subsections (3) and (4), after "commits an offence if" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (b) subsection (5) is omitted. (4) In section 71S (submission of transaction reports to Commission)— (a) in subsections (4) and (5), after "commits an offence if" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (b) subsection (6) is omitted. (5) In paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 (failure to deliver donation report)— (a) in sub-paragraph (1), between "is" and "not delivered" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse"; (b) in sub-paragraph (2), after "which" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (c) sub-paragraph (3) is omitted. (6) In paragraph 12 of Schedule 7A (failure to deliver transaction report)— (a) in sub-paragraph (1), between "is" and "not delivered" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (b) in sub-paragraph (2), after "which" there is inserted ", without reasonable excuse,"; (c) sub-paragraph (3) is omitted."