Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 10528 on Candidates: Expenditure, what guidance the Government issued to (a) candidates, (b) parties and (c) election agents on notional invoices in Representation of the People Act returns before 2001.

The government is not responsible for issuing guidance on campaign expenditure. From 2001, it has been the role of the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission, to issue guidance on campaign expenditure, including notional expenditure. Retrieving the information on the position prior to 2001 could only be done at a disproportionate cost to the department.