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Proceeding contribution from Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 15 December 2010. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

I will ask a very simple question, to which I am sure there is a very simple answer. It is about limits on individuals. My noble friend referred to an industrialist in Scotland during the course of the campaign to which she was referring. What happens if a rich man or woman in the United Kingdom decides that they have got several million pounds to spend, and they do not want to spend it through a political party in influencing the outcome of this referendum, and they decide to split up their allocations whereby they fall within statutory limits? It may well be enshrined in legislation somewhere but I just think it should be on the record, during this debate, whether that is a permissible activity under either this law or the 2000 Act. That is my very simple question: what controls exist to ensure that private individuals do not seek to manipulate the result?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
723 c636 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Constituencies Alternative vote Broadcasting Costs Finance Expenditure Electoral Commission General elections Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Political parties Newspaper press Referendums Loans Media Scotland Voting behaviour Voting methods Wales Scottish Parliament
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk