Multiple Births: Antenatal Care

(asked on )

Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2014, Official Report, column 418W, on the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014, when the Electoral Commission will have finalised its guidance on the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014; and how many charities (a) have been and (b) will be consulted in the compilation of that guidance.


Answered by
Gary Streeter Portrait
Gary Streeter
This question was answered on 12th May 2014

The Electoral Commission informs me that since Royal Assent of the Act, it has published a series of regular updates that explain how the new rules will work and how they may affect campaigners. These campaigner updates are available on the Commission's website and Members of Parliament can also sign up to receive them at:

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/non-party-campaign-spending-and-donations-at-elections/sign-up-for-updates

The Commission has held four roundtable discussions across the UK, and used an online survey to listen carefully to the needs of campaigners and explain its plans for the guidance. There were 82 responses from charities to the survey and 24 charities attended the Commission's roundtable events. Electoral Commission officials have also spoken at events hosted by charity sector umbrella bodies.

The Commission will publish its full guidance on the new rules in the summer, ensuring that campaigners have guidance available to them in advance of the regulated period. Campaigners are also able to approach the Commission for bespoke advice as usual and will continue to be able to do this when the new legislation comes into force on 19 September 2014.

Reticulating Splines