Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to (a) regulated donees and (b) political parties on whether multiple donations from (i) individuals and (ii) companies where the only shareholder, employee and person of significant control is the same individual should be treated as the same ultimate donor for the purposes of donation aggregation in cases where the combination of such donations would exceed reporting thresholds.

The Commission's guidance for political parties and regulated donees outlines how donations and loans from the same source must be grouped. Donations made in the same calendar year by the same source must be reported when the aggregate amount is above the reporting threshold.

It is a principle of company law that companies have a seperate legal personality from the people who own or operate them. As such, donations from individuals and from companies are considered seperate for the purposes of reporting.