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Political Parties and Elections Bill

My Lords, in Grand Committee my noble friend Lord Rennard expressed some anxiety about this proposition. We are very anxious about the greater bureaucracy likely to be entailed, on which I think Members on all sides of the House will concur, which will be imposed on local treasurers and others who have a reporting or other responsibilities. In that connection, we think that it is better simply to stick with penalties for late submission of information rather than indulge in what we think will be quite complex arrangements, which may have to be constantly reviewed, for some assistance for early payment discounts. We still stand by that—and probably with the Minister, I suspect. Simplicity would suggest that a late penalty is better than an early discount.