Electoral Administration Bill

I have a short note on this, because I can see exactly what the noble Lord, Lord Norton of Louth, is seeking to do. We went back to parliamentary counsel about this, and they say that what he suggests is not necessary and would go beyond the usual drafting style. But that does not stop me saying that, if the noble Lord feels strongly about it, I am quite happy to take it away and come back. In other pieces of legislation, I have been pushing the line that it is important that legislation is as clear and as simply written as possible. Indeed, I am equally happy to go back to parliamentary counsel on the drafting amendments tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham. In terms of drafting, regardless of the probing element, I can again see exactly what is being sought, so I am happy to do that as well. I am in danger of pre-empting what may come later, but, as the noble Baroness will know, we have sought to make it possible for the Electoral Commission to play the role that she mentions. We have a clause stand part debate on that issue later. The reason why that provision is on the face of the Bill without it being a certainty is because legislation is needed to change what the commission could do if we went down that route. It was right to have that option on the face of the Bill. That does not mean that it will happen, but it is the position in other countries that we have looked at and the commission would be the obvious body to take the matter forward. It will be for the Government to appoint the Electoral Commission, if that organisation was given the task. Perhaps we can explore that, too, further down the line; I may be able to add more when I reach my notes on that issue. For now, I certainly shall take away the drafting amendments and look at them.