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Political Parties and Elections Bill

The Government tabled several amendments to the Bill's provisions on the Electoral Commission's powers and governance at various stages in the other place. These amendments all respond to concerns raised in this House, in the other place, or by the Electoral Commission. I will briefly outline the effect of each amendment. Lords amendment 1 follows a report by the House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, which suggested that the clause be amended to ensure that an order made under paragraph 16 of schedule 19C, which prescribes the amount of a fixed monetary penalty, will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. The Government were happy to agree to that. The amendment adds a reference to paragraph 1(5) of schedule 19C—the paragraph that relates to the definition of fixed monetary penalties—to the list of paragraphs at clause 3(4), which is the list of parts that will be subject to affirmative resolution. The consequence of the amendment will be that any order that sets or alters the level of fixed monetary penalties will be subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses. Lords amendment 2 requires the leaders of the three largest qualifying parties in Westminster to nominate three candidates each for consideration as nominated commissioner.