With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:
Amendment 17, page 2, line 2, at end insert—
“and persons who would be so entitled except for the fact that they will be aged 16 or 17 on the date on which the referendum is to be held.”
This amendment would entitle British citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Republic of Ireland aged 16 and 17 to vote in the referendum.
Government amendment 24.
Amendment 18, page 2, line 13, after “Commonwealth citizens”, insert—
“or citizens of the Republic of Ireland”.
Amendment 19, page 2, line 16, at end insert—
“and persons who would be so entitled except for the fact that they will be aged 16 or 17 on the date on which the referendum is to be held.”
This amendment would entitle Commonwealth citizens aged 16 and 17 who would be entitled to vote in Gibraltar for elections to the European Parliament to vote in the referendum.
Amendment 7, page 2, line 16, at end insert—
“(d) the persons who on the date of the referendum would be entitled to vote in a European parliamentary election by virtue of the European Parliamentary Elections (Franchise of Relevant Citizens of the Union) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1184) (citizens of the European Union other than Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens).”
This amendment would extend the franchise to EU nationals who would be entitled to vote in EU parliamentary elections in the UK.
Amendment 8, page 2, line 16, at end insert—
‘(1A) In subsection 1(a), “persons” include individuals who are aged 16 or 17 and would otherwise meet the conditions to be entitled to vote as electors in a parliamentary election.”
This amendment would extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds.
Amendment 9, page 2, line 20, at end insert—
(a) In subsection 1(a) “a parliamentary election” includes elections to the Scottish Parliament,
(b) a person resident in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Gibraltar who, if resident in Scotland, met the conditions for inclusion in the electoral register for Scottish elections, will be entitled to vote in the referendum.”
This amendment would extend the vote to 16 and 17-years-olds and EU nationals.
Amendment 10, page 2, line 20, at end insert—
‘(3) In subsection 1(a) “a parliamentary election” includes elections to the Scottish Parliament.”
This amendment would extend the vote to 16 and 17 years olds and EU nationals in Scotland.
Amendment 21, page 2, line 20, at end add—
‘(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended, or of any other statute, a British citizen resident overseas in a country within the European Union will be eligible—
(a) to register to vote, and
(b) to vote in the referendum,
irrespective of the length of time that the citizen has been resident overseas.”
This amendment is intended to allow British citizens resident in other EU countries to vote in the referendum.
New clause 1—Impartiality of broadcasters—
‘(1) Notwithstanding any enactment or legal instrument, before the start of the referendum period the Secretary of State shall by regulations make provision to ensure the impartiality of broadcasters during the referendum period.
(2) Regulations made under this section must include provision for the appointment by the Secretary of State of a referendum broadcasting adjudicator.
(3) Regulations made under this section must require the referendum broadcasting adjudicator
(a) to draw up and publish guidance applicable to the referendum to ensure the impartiality of broadcasters during the referendum period, notwithstanding any relevant guidance currently in force or in draft; and
(b) to make arrangements by which any allegations of breach of the guidance on impartiality can be referred to and determined by the adjudicator and where an allegation, in the adjudicator’s view, is vexatious or frivolous to dismiss the allegation.
(4) Guidance published under subsection (3)(a) shall apply to—
(a) the holder of a licence under the Broadcasting Act 1990 or 1996 and
(b) the British Broadcasting Corporation.
(5) Regulations made under this section shall require the referendum broadcasting adjudicator within one day of receipt of an allegation that a broadcaster has breached the guidance on impartiality to determine whether the guidance has been breached and publish its determination and, where a breach has taken place, to require the broadcaster to remedy the breach within one day.
(6) Regulations made under this section are to be made by statutory instrument which is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”
The intention of this amendment is to ensure impartiality of television and radio broadcasters during the referendum campaign and to allow for swift adjudication where an allegation of bias is made.
New clause 11—Limit of the expenditure of registered political parties—
‘(1) Notwithstanding Schedule 14 of the 2000 Act and any other enactment, for the purposes of the referendum there will be a cumulative limit on the expenditure which political parties registered under Part II of the 2000 Act can spend cumulatively on campaigning during the referendum.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) the cumulative limit is £14,000,000.
(3) Each political party’s share of the cumulative limit shall be determined in proportion to its share of the total votes cast at the general election that took place on 7 May 2015.
(4) On the basis set out at subsection (3) the Electoral Commission shall calculate and notify each political party of its share of the cumulative limit.
(5) No registered political party shall spend any money in respect of the referendum campaign until the notification required at subsection (4) has been issued.
(6) Each political party is responsible for its own expenditure and must not breach the limit notified by the Electoral Commission in respect of its own expenditure.”
The purpose of this amendment is to impose an expenditure limit on the cumulative total amount that political parties can spend during the referendum campaign.
Amendment 5, in clause 1, page 1, line 9, at end insert—
“or a date within three months before or after May 5.”
This would ensure the referendum vote could not be held on a day three months before or after the date of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish elections.
Government amendment 12.
Amendment 6, page 1, line 9, at end insert—
“(c) must not be the same day as local government elections in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.”
This amendment would ensure the referendum vote could not be held on the same day as local government elections.
Amendment 15, page 1, line 9, at end insert—
“(c) must not coincide with local or mayoral elections planned for 4 May 2017.”
This amendment would rule out holding the referendum on the same day as the 2017 local elections.
Government amendment 23.
Amendment 13, page 1, line 11, at end insert—
“or leave the European Union?”
Amendment 14, page 1, leave out line 14 and insert—
“A ddylai’r Deyrnas Unedig bara i fod yn aelod o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd neu adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd?”
Amendment 16, page 1, line 14, at end insert—
‘(6) At least 10 weeks before the date on which the referendum is to be held the Government shall publish a White Paper outlining the terms of any renegotiation between the United Kingdom and the European Union and the consequences for the United Kingdom of leaving the European Union.”
This amendment requires the Government to produce a white paper on the results of the Government’s renegotiation with the EU and the consequences for Britain of leaving the EU.
Government amendments 25 to 28.
Amendment 3, in clause 6, page 3, line 40, at end insert—
‘(5) Regulations made under this Act or the 2000 Act in respect of the referendum must be made and come into force not less than six months before the start of the referendum period.”
The purpose of the amendment is to ensure the legislative framework for the referendum is clear at least six months before it is required to be implemented or complied with.
Government amendments 29 and 30.
Amendment 1, in schedule 1, page 6, line 6, after second “period”, insert—
“of not less than 16 weeks”
The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the referendum period lasts for at least 16 weeks.
Government amendments 31 to 43.
Amendment 22, page 12, line 23, at end insert—
‘(3) Notwithstanding the European Communities Act 1972, an EU institution (within the meaning of article 13(1) of the Treaty on European Union) may not incur referendum expenses during the referendum period.”
This amendment would prevent the EU institutions, including the Commission, from direct campaigning in the referendum, whether under the guise of EU law or otherwise.
Government amendments 44 to 46.
Amendment 2, page 13, line 11, at end add—
‘(6) For the purposes of paragraph 6 of Schedule 15 of the 2000 Act a permitted participant must not accept a relevant donation, irrespective of whether or not it meets the requirements of the 2000 Act and this Act, if the donation is funded directly or indirectly in whole or part from moneys, resources or support disbursed or allocated by or at the direction of the European Commission, its agencies or any related European institution to the donor or via other parties to the donor.”
The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that no funds or support provided directly or indirectly by European Union bodies have a bearing on the outcome of the referendum.
Amendment (a) to amendment 2, after “(6)” insert
“Notwithstanding the European Communities Act 1972,”.
This amendment would ensure that amendment 2 takes effect as intended. It would make clear a permitted participant could not accept donations paid by EU institutions under the authority of EU law.
Government amendments 47 to 52 and 54 to 77.