Political Parties and Elections Bill

It is a matter of record that the commission has said that its role is to apply the law in carrying out its regulatory remit and to advise Parliament and others whether the proposals for changes to the law are workable. It sets out its concerns on page 5 of the latest briefing. It goes on to state:""If Parliament wishes to change the test that the 2000 Act uses for the permissibility of individuals"," it should address the issues raised in some detail, which we have sought to do in the amendments and will continue to do when the matter goes back to the other place. I have already set out the problems presented by the records of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs—as a result of the PAYE system, a large number of taxpayers simply do not have tax records, so there must be self-declaration. If the amendments are approved, it will take some time—I cannot provide an exact timetable—to ensure that regulations are brought in and guidance is established so that the provisions are workable and political parties, not least party workers at the local level, know where they are. Overall, I believe it is possible to make the sentiment behind these Lords amendments workable. That is what we have sought to do.