Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the oral answer of 15 January 2025, Official Report, House of Lords, Columns 1123-1124, on Political Parties: Funding, what guidance the Commission has issued on whether (a) Russian, (b) Iranian and (c) Chinese citizens can donate to UK (i) political parties, (ii) registered third parties and (iii) regulated donees if they reside in (A) Wales and (B) Scotland.

Qualifying foreign citizens residing in Scotland and Wales are eligible to register to vote in local government and devolved elections, and are therefore permissible donors for those elections. The Commission provides guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on the eligibility criteria. Political parties, campaigners and regulated donees are responsible to carry out checks on donations they receive to ensure they are from permissible sources, and for properly and accurately reporting them. The Commission has published guidance about who is and is not a permissable donor.

If the Commission is made aware of evidence that donations may have been misreported or have come from an impermissable source, it will consider it in line with its Enforcement Policy.