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Political Parties and Elections Bill

In another place, the Opposition brought forward amendments to require that the thresholds of the 2000 Act should be uprated annually in line with a measure of inflation. My right honourable friend the Minister of State indicated that we agreed with the principle behind these amendments, and committed to bringing forward government amendments to give effect to it. Our Amendment 112 meets this commitment. In effect, it compels the Secretary of State, at least once in the life of a Parliament lasting more than two years, to review and, if he considers it appropriate, vary the recordable and reportable thresholds in the 2000 Act to take account of changes in the value of money. Such a review will not take place in the life of the current Parliament, but must be conducted for all future Parliaments which sit for at least two years. In carrying out the review, the Secretary of State will be expected to take account of changes in the value of money as well as the administrative burden on parties. Should he conclude that no change should be made to the thresholds, he will make a Statement to Parliament explaining his reasoning. In the event that the thresholds are amended, we expect that the GDP deflator will be used to calculate any revisions. The imposition of this obligation to consider changing the thresholds once per Parliament does not limit the existing discretion under Section 155(2)(a) to make such changes as are thought necessary from time to time. So, if the Secretary of State decides that more than one change to the various limits is justified during the life of a Parliament, nothing in these amendments will prevent that. I beg to move.