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Political Parties and Elections Bill

My Lords, I am very grateful for the support from around the House, and particularly from the Front Benches, for these amendments. I have very little to add. The Speaker’s Committee is content, and the new Speaker in another place has written confirming the committee’s agreement to the amendment. I take on board the noble Lord’s point about protecting the dignity of those who may not be successful. As I understand it, the position concerning transparency—which I think is what his question was about to some extent—will be up to the Speaker’s Committee. The names will be put forward to the committee and will not necessarily be made public unless the committee determines that nominations should be made publicly transparent. I think that we can remain fairly confident that those who make up the Speaker’s Committee, from the Speaker himself onwards, are experienced and skilful enough to ensure that embarrassment is not caused. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, and thank him for his comments. I certainly praise him for his consistency on this issue over what is now almost at decade—a long time in politics indeed. I think that the position we have reached today is one that is generally accepted. I also thank the noble Lord, Lord Steel. I had not forgotten what he said in the debate we had. We will very much keep under review and treat seriously the matters that he raises. Amendment 1 agreed.