Found: The Government should amend Part 4 of the Representation of the People Bill to specify that limits on

Found: Are you, like the Committee, disappointed that the Representation of the People Bill was pulled and

Found: We particularly welcome the recommendations to strengthen provisions in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: We particularly welcome the recommendations to strengthen provisions in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: We particularly welcome the recommendations to strengthen provisions in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: defending democracy taskforce and some of the measures we are trying to take through the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The Representation of the People Bill currently before the UK Parliament would make further improvements

Found: writing impartial briefings, sometimes about political financing and sometimes about the Representation of the People Bill

Found: into the health of electoral democracy in the United Kingdom, in the context of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: moratorium on donations made via cryptocurrency, which we will implement through the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The Government has said it will amend the Representation of the People Bill at report stage, to allow

Found: politics through the lack of a cap on political donations- an omission the Government’s Representation of the People Bill

Found: examine the health of UK electoral democracy alongside the specific reforms in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Representation) would make a massive difference to me and millions of others if included in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: of public authority, whether through the present electoral law agenda, through the Representation of the People Bill

Found: issues to prevent unfair manipulation of British democracy are being addressed in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Commission”, 2 March 2026, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/representation-of-the-people-bill-policy-summaries

Found: The very fact the government are proposing a Representation of the People Bill and have set-up the Modernising

Found: The Autonomy Institute welcomes the Representation of the People Bill and its provisions to tighten

Found: written evidence to the Modernising Elections Inquiry, because we believe that the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The Representation of the People Bill contains lots of good stuff.

Found: Given the new Representation of the People Bill, first-time voters will now more than ever likely rely

Found: Likewise, if the increased enforcement role for the Electoral Commission envisioned in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: in the UK faces a number of threats, some of which are addressed by the Government’s Representation of the People Bill

Found: course there are others which are to some extent addressed by measures contained in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: This is profoundly undemocratic and nothing in the Representation of the People bill offers any antidote

Found: https://centax.org.uk/the-regulation-of-political-donations- recommendations-for-the-representation-of-the-people-bill

Found: to recommend Proportional Representation (PR) for general elections as part of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Recommendation 27: The Government should include provisions in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The Representation of the People Bill stands to address some, but not all the problems.

Found: This has included briefing parliamentarians at different stages of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The Representation of the People Bill presents a significant opportunity to strengthen UK democracy

Found: Commission’s observations on the likely effect of pilot schemes (under clause 20 of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: While the provisions of the Representation of the People Bill will affect those attending schools in

Found: source of their funds can be difficult to assess. 3.2 Several provisions within the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The measures introduced in the Representation of the People Bill represent positive steps towards these

Found: associated with electoral reform, particularly related to the introduction of reforms in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Reforms proposed in the Representation of the People Bill will help to improve confidence but could

Found: end, our study proposes a number of remedies that could be incorporated into the new Representation of the People Bill

Found: We have responded to this question based on the Representation of the People Bill 2025.

Found: We are concerned that the Representation of the People Bill fails to address the risks of misinformation

Found:  Recommendation 1: The Representation of the People Bill should be amended such that the thresholds

Found: Capping Domestic Donations While the Representation of the People Bill is a welcome step, the Government

Found: Voting outlines the problem of low and unequal voter turnout and the ways in which the Representation of the People Bill

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

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 29 June (HL1025), whether their discussions with the Electoral Commission included the merits of requiring the publication of official turnout figures in local contests where voters are able to cast more than one vote; and if so, what was the outcome of those discussions.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The power in clause 49 of the Representation of the People Bill is intended to support the provision of election-related information to electors, including information about elections and referendums in their area, candidates standing for election and polling station locations. Government discussions with the Electoral Commission on the use of this power have therefore focused on how best to improve access to this information for voters. They have not focused on requirements for the publication of official turnout figures for local contests.

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 19 June 2026 to Question 9009 on Political parties: Finance, what assessment has been made of whether such property assets of defunct or wound-down (a) political property companies and (b) political clubs could become stranded as consequence of the new proposed profit test.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Representation of the People Bill introduces new, stricter requirements for companies wishing to make donations to political parties and other regulated entities. Companies set up to hold property assets will be subject to those requirements, including being able to demonstrate sufficient profit.

The government recognises the concern that these types of companies may not be able to meet this test. We are continuing to engage with political parties and other stakeholders to consider the potential implications and practical operation of these reforms.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Tough new rules to crackdown on foreign money in UK elections, of 6 July 2026, whether political parties will be retrospectively required to return donations from 25 March 2026 to 5 July 2026 that do not comply with the minimum residency requirement in relation to former overseas electors or former non-registered electors who were residing abroad.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The minimum residency requirement which was announced by Government on 6 July 2026 will apply to any registered overseas elector who then registered domestically from 25 March 2026 onwards. For registered overseas electors who register domestically this year, the minimum residency period will apply until 1 January 2028.

For non-registered individuals who were residing abroad, the modified minimum residency requirement applies from 6 July.

Donations from before commencement which exceed the cap, either outright or when aggregated with other donations and regulated transactions in the same year, must be returned within 60 days of commencement of the provisions in the Representation of the People Bill.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 117888, on Candidates, whether his Department is retaining the requirement that the office address must be within the local authority area.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The government is not changing location requirements for office addresses. Through the Representation of the People Bill, election agents will still need to provide a home address, but they will also be able to provide a correspondence address for publication instead of their home address. That correspondence address may be located anywhere in the United Kingdom.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their plans to lower the voting age to 16, whether they have plans to amend the definition of a child to those under the age of 16 in the (1) Children and Families Act 2014, (2) Children Act 1989, and (c) Children Act 2004.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

None of the measures in the Representation of the People Bill which extend the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds will change the definition of a child in those three acts.

There is no single definition of the age at which someone becomes an ‘adult’ in the UK. Different age limits are applied in different circumstances.

This government is clear that 16 is the right age to be able to exercise your democratic right. Extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds will allow them to have a say in the government that shapes their future and set them up for lifelong engagement in democracy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124762 on Political Parties: Finance, whether the new Section 54A requirement will be in addition to a requirement for an overseas elector to make a declaration on their donations.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Under our amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, an overseas elector will be required to provide a declaration for their donation to be permissible. A declaration from an overseas elector must include the individual’s full name and address; whether they are an overseas contributor, the value of the main donation, and the date on which the declaration is made.

In addition to this, the Government will seek to introduce a requirement for all donors making donations with above a certain threshold to submit a declaration with their donation. The information in this declaration will include the requirements set out under Section 54A.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with the House of Commons (a) Standards Committee, (b) Registrar and (c) Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on proposed reforms on political donations to and reporting by hon. Members.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government has engaged extensively with stakeholders on the political finance measures contained in the Representation of the People Bill, including the Electoral Commission, the National Crime Agency, political parties and parliamentary colleagues. Ministers have also engaged with Members of both Houses during the Bill's passage.

There will be further opportunities for parliamentary scrutiny and debate as the Bill continues through the House of Commons.

The measures in the Bill concern political finance law and do not alter the House of Commons Code of Conduct or rules on the registration and declaration of Members’ interests, which are matters for Parliament.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether new corporate donation rules will apply to Representation of the People Act candidate donations.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government has tabled an amendment in the House of Commons at Report stage of the Representation of the People Bill to ensure that the new corporate donation rules introduced will also apply to donations made to candidates under the Representation of the People Act 1983, to ensure that these donations come from permissible sources.

This is consistent with our wider intent to tighten the rules governing company donations, improving transparency and strengthening trust in UK politics.

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 29 June 2026, to Question 11405, on Members and Political Parties: Finance, whether local accounting units will be required to undertake due diligence on donations below £11,180 if (a) their national political party or (b) another local accounting unit within that party, has accepted donations from the same donor in the same year which would aggregate above £11,180.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

All donations with a value above £500 must be checked for permissibility in accordance with the requirements set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA).

The Know Your Donor regime will introduce new risk-based due diligence checks on significant political donations. As provided for in the Representation of the People Bill 2026, all recipients of political donations will need to carry out enhanced Know Your Donor due diligence checks on donations over £11,180, including where relevant donations are received across different parts of a political party’s organisation.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to protect elections from foreign interference.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Elections in the UK continue to be well-run, but the Electoral Commission has highlighted that the electoral system faces growing threats, including from foreign interference.

The Commission’s regulatory remit is focused on ensuring the safeguards against foreign interference in the political finance system are properly enforced. The Commission also makes recommendations to further strengthen the law, a number of which are being taken forward in the Representation of the People Bill.

The Commission also plays an important convening role, with partners, to enable the sharing of election-related security information with the electoral community, particularly in the run-up to elections. It is part of the Defending Democracy Taskforce and earlier this year it organised a briefing event for political parties with National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to discuss their guidance that covers protecting democratic institutions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what provision is being made to ensure that 14 – 16 year olds are being equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions when they vote.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government is delivering its commitment to extend the right to vote to 16-and-17-year-olds through the Representation of the People Bill. The Bill was introduced on 12 February 2026 and is scheduled for Report Stage in the Commons on 14 July 2026. The Government intends for the franchise change to take effect ahead of scheduled polls in May 2028, subject to parliamentary passage.

Alongside legislating for the change, the Government recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate in democratic life. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote. By engaging voters early, we will build the foundations for long-lasting participation in our democracy.

To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make citizenship compulsory at key stages 1 and 2, with a focus on democracy and government, as well as media literacy.

The secondary curriculum will build on that foundation, ensuring all pupils receive an essential grounding in democracy, government and law.

The Government is also working with the Electoral Commission, the devolved governments and civil society to consider what additional measures can support schools, colleges, and youth groups to deliver practical voter and civic education.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress is being made on introduction of votes at 16.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government is delivering its commitment to extend the right to vote to 16-and-17-year-olds through the Representation of the People Bill. The Bill was introduced on 12 February 2026 and is scheduled for Report Stage in the Commons on 14 July 2026. The Government intends for the franchise change to take effect ahead of scheduled polls in May 2028, subject to parliamentary passage.

Alongside legislating for the change, the Government recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate in democratic life. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote. By engaging voters early, we will build the foundations for long-lasting participation in our democracy.

To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make citizenship compulsory at key stages 1 and 2, with a focus on democracy and government, as well as media literacy.

The secondary curriculum will build on that foundation, ensuring all pupils receive an essential grounding in democracy, government and law.

The Government is also working with the Electoral Commission, the devolved governments and civil society to consider what additional measures can support schools, colleges, and youth groups to deliver practical voter and civic education.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help tackle foreign financial interference in domestic politics from (a) Open Society Foundations and (b) think tanks and academics funded by foreign governments.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The UK Government takes attempts by any country to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including from covert political funding.

The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats, including interference. Amongst other things, it is illegal for foreign states to engage in conduct that interferes with our elections and other political processes. The Act also provides for the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). The scheme’s aims are twofold: firstly, to strengthen the resilience of the UK political system against covert foreign influence and, secondly, to provide greater assurance around the activities of specified foreign powers or entities who pose a national security risk to the UK.

In addition, as set out by the Security Minister in Parliament on 4 March, under the counter-political interference and espionage plan, officials are developing a programme of work to engage with the UK’s think-tanks and non-profit sector to discuss the threats that they face from foreign interference.

In December 2025, the Secretary of State commissioned former permanent secretary Philip Rycroft to lead an independent review into foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The government is committed to responding formally and in full to the Rycroft Review in advance of the Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill.

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 21 May 2026 to Question 184 on Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK politics independent review, for what reason political parties were not consulted before the two recommendations were accepted; and whether political parties have been consulted since the review was published.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including malign information operations and covert political funding.

The Government’s decision to immediately accept two of the recommendations via amendments to the Representation of the People Bill: (1) an annual £100,000 cap on total political donations and regulated transactions made by each overseas elector; and (2) a moratorium on political donations made using crypto assets, of any amount, was made to strengthen protections against foreign financial interference in UK democracy and to maintain confidence in the transparency and integrity of political donations. We acted quickly to bring forward the provisions, to avoid a window of opportunity opening that would enable evasion by malign and hostile actors.

The Government is committed to responding formally and in full to the Rycroft Review in advance of the Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill. As part of this, the Government will continue to engage across the sector, including with political parties. We have had an initial discussion with representatives on the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Parties Panel and look forward to a further discussion in the near future.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the revenue test on the ability of political parties to wind down (a) holding and (b) property companies which are no longer trading and transfer the assets to (i) another accounting unit and (ii) the main party.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Representation of the People Bill strengthens the framework for company and Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) political donations by introducing new eligibility criteria designed to ensure that donors have a genuine connection to the UK and are carrying on legitimate business activity.

The revenue test is one of three tests applied to assess whether a company has the capacity to make a political donation, alongside requirements relating to headquarters and ownership or control.

The Government’s approach is intended to close off routes for shell or dormant companies to be used to channel funds into UK politics, while ensuring that legitimate political fundraising can continue across the system.

We continue to engage with the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders including political parties on the implementation of this measure.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to use the powers that would be granted to them under clause 49 ('Power to obtain election-related information etc) of the Representation of the People Bill 2026; and whether they intend for these powers to include the creation of an authoritative central repository of election results.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Returning Officers are responsible for publishing election results in their local areas and the Government has no current plans to introduce a uniform approach to the publication of local election results by local authorities.

The intention of the power is to improve the availability and consistency of election related information. The Government is working with the Electoral Commission to consider how this power can best support practical improvements to elector-facing information.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2026, to Question 5423, on Political Parties: Finance, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the potential impact of (a) the new corporate donation provisions in the Representation of the People Bill and (b) the proposed sponsorship guidance issued by the Electoral Commission to the Parliamentary Parties Panel on the ability of (a) Facebook/Meta, (b) Google/Alphabet, (c) Uber and (d) the Bank of America to undertake sponsorship of party political conferences.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission identified variations in practice between parties in identifying and reporting sponsorship and has developed updated guidance to clarify this area of the law.

Sponsorship is a type of political donation with permissibility and reporting requirements. Payments linked to party conferences are considered sponsorship where one of the purposes of the payment could reasonably be seen to help with the costs of the conference.

The Commission has recently shared its draft guidance with the Westminster Parliamentary Parties’ Panel for comment. It is currently considering feedback from the parties, including how the guidance, alongside the company donation proposals in the Representation of the People Bill, could impact party conferences.

Last year, in its discussions with the UK Government, the Commission highlighted the need for the company donation clauses to be considered in relation to existing political finance laws, including specifically sponsorship of party conferences.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the system for postal voting.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to strengthening the resilience of our electoral processes, including the postal voting system.

In its 2025 policy paper, here (17/07/2025), the Government set out a package of proposals intended to improve the overall resilience and responsiveness of postal voting following an extensive review. These include moving the postal vote application, and candidate nomination deadlines earlier in the election timetable. This will provide more time for the production, distribution and return of postal votes, benefitting both domestic and overseas postal voters. This package of measures is now being delivered as part of the Representation of the People Bill.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of existing political finance rules in preventing foreign interference and improper influence in UK elections.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The threat of foreign interference is evolving, while the current UK rules are no longer sufficient to address these risks. Our Representation of the People Bill introduces tougher rules on political donations to protect UK elections. Legislation will require enhanced checks by recipients of donations to consider the risk of political donations being illegitimate, ensure political donors declare any benefit or sources of funding connected to their donation and tighten the rules around company donations.

In addition, we commissioned Philip Rycroft to undertake an Independent Review into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics. We are considering his recommendations and will issue a full response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on the potential impact of new rules on political advertising on political debate, satire or criticism during election campaigns.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government is engaging regularly with the Electoral Commission as part of the development and implementation of reforms contained in the Representation of the People Bill.

These reforms strengthen the existing framework for electoral campaigning and political finance and do not introduce measures that restrict legitimate political campaigning.

The measures are designed to protect our democracy from foreign interference, to ensure the Electoral Commission has the powers needed to enforce the rules effectively, and to tackle the unacceptable harassment and intimidation faced by those standing for election.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have been selected to participate in pilot schemes testing alternative voting arrangements under the Representation of the People Bill.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Representation of the People Bill is currently undergoing its parliamentary passage and does not include any power to pilot alternative voting arrangements. The Government worked with four local authorities - Cambridge, Milton Keynes, North Hertfordshire and Tunbridge Wells - to pilot flexible voting at the local elections in May, using powers conferred by the Representation of the People Act 2000.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the interaction of the provisions of the Representation of the People Bill on corporate donations with the proposed draft guidance by the Electoral Commission on conference sponsorship, and if he will make it his policy to update the Impact Assessment produced for the Bill in light of the Electoral Commission’s proposed changes.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out a comprehensive framework governing political donations and controls on permissible sources of funding. This includes provisions relevant to sponsorship and other forms of support provided to political parties.

Conference-related activity, including sponsorship arrangements, forms part of this broader regulatory framework. Political parties are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to verify the source of funds and ensuring compliance with Electoral Commission guidance.

The Government keeps all aspects of political finance law under review to ensure the framework remains effective and proportionate and will consider changes to legislation where appropriate.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026, to Question 124771, on Political Parties: Donors, what assessment has been made of whether the revenue test will prevent the transfer of assets in defunct property companies or trusts.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The revenue test will form part of the new donor permissibility requirements for companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) under provisions included in the Representation of the People Bill. This test requires companies/LLPs to have sufficient revenue and has been introduced to ensure that companies/LLPs wishing to make a donation can demonstrate legitimate business activity. Companies that do not make sufficient revenue to fund their donation will not be eligible.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with cabinet colleagues concerning the alignment of Northern Ireland's political donations law with that of the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answered by Hilary Benn

The statutory framework for donations to political parties applies across the UK. This framework explicitly provides for Northern Ireland parties to receive donations from eligible people and organisations that are based in Ireland. Donations from Irish sources are subject to the same scrutiny by the Electoral Commission as donations from any other permissible donor.

The Government has set out its intention to introduce tougher rules on donations to political parties across the UK in the Representation of the People Bill. Changes to the political donations framework will apply in Northern Ireland.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on the provisions of political finance laws on declarations of political gifts, sponsorship and donations to (a) hon. Members in the 12 month period before they are elected and (b) regulated donees who do not hold the status of an elected representative.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review, which made recommendations on strengthening the political finance framework, including in relation to donations made to individuals before they become Members of Parliament, these issues have been considered as part of wider public and parliamentary scrutiny.

There has also been debate on political donations and transparency during the passage of the Representation of the People Bill, during which a range of views have been expressed on the scope and application of the political finance framework, including in relation to regulated donees.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 1 June (HL Deb col 642), what is the evidential basis that there was extensive consultation with political parties during the course of the drawing up of the Representation of the People Bill.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has undertaken consultation on the Representation of the People Bill over the whole length of its development. In July 2025 the then-Minister for Homelessness and Democracy, the Hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney, wrote to all frontbenchers inviting them to meet with her about the recently published Strategy for Elections, which forms the basis for the Bill and hosted discussions on the document open to all Members of both Houses.

Since then, the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy has consulted with political parties throughout the passage of the Bill, including inviting frontbenchers to meet with her to discuss the Bill upon its introduction in the Other Place. Officials from my department have also met with the Parliamentary Parties Panel during the development of the Bill, most recently on 2 June.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the level of the threat posed by Russia to UK elections.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government is committed to upholding and strengthening UK democracy by protecting against foreign interference, improving political transparency, adding tougher checks for donations and closing loopholes by reinforcing electoral legislation against foreign interference.

The Joint Election Security and Preparedness (JESP) Unit is a permanent function which sits jointly between Cabinet Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), dedicated to protecting UK elections and referendums and coordinating work across government to respond to issues including protective security, cyber threats and mis and disinformation, as they emerge.

Through the Representation of the People Bill we are introducing tougher rules on political donations to protect UK elections, striking the right balance between safeguarding against foreign interference whilst making sure that legitimate donors can continue to fund electoral campaigns. These changes will effectively meet an evolving and sophisticated threat to ensure the UK is not vulnerable to illicit political donations from abroad.

Additionally, the Government welcomes Philip Rycroft’s comprehensive, thoughtful and well-reasoned report on foreign financial interference in our democracy. We are taking immediate steps to implement his recommendations for a cap on donations made by overseas electors and for a moratorium on donations made via crypto currency, which we will implement through amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, currently before the House of Commons. The Government supports the wider conclusions drawn by Mr Rycroft on the risks in our system and will reflect swiftly on how best to take these forward, given their more technical nature. We will respond, formally and in full, in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the financial controls in place in all UK political parties are fit for purpose.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises the vulnerability of the UK to malign interference in its political finance system, and is committed to strengthening the rules governing political donations. The Representation of the People Bill introduces a comprehensive package of reforms to address these risks, including Know Your Donor requirements, tighter rules on company donations to ensure a genuine connection to the UK, enhanced transparency around the source of funds, and stronger enforcement provisions

These measures build on the findings of the independent Rycroft Review, which identified risks of foreign financial influence and areas where safeguards could be strengthened. The Government is working through the Review’s recommendations as part of its wider approach to strengthening the regime.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his proposals to require candidates to provide identification to nominate, whether this will require the same identification requirements as needed to vote in person at a polling station.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Following Royal Assent for the Representation of the People Bill 2026, the Government will bring forward regulations in due course to set out the detailed provisions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in the Third Sitting of the Public Bill Committee for the Representation of the People Bill on 24 March 2026, Official Report, Column 126, if he will publish the Ministerial reply on children in secure care.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

As indicated during the Public Bill Committee debate on 24 March 2026, in response to points raised by the Hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, I intend to write to him shortly with further details on issues relating to children in secure accommodation. A copy of that correspondence will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as it has been sent.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Parliamentary Parties Panel has been consulted by his department on how the Government intends to respond to the Rycroft review report; and how the Government plans implement the proposals that the Government has already accepted from the review.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government has had discussions with the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Parties Panel to seek their views on the recommendations made in the Rycroft Review and the practicalities around implementing them.

The Government is committed to responding formally and in full to the Rycroft Review in advance of the Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill. As part of this, the Government will continue to engage across the sector, including with the Parliamentary Parties Panel.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Public Bill Committee for the Representation of the People Bill, Official Report, Compilation PDF of all Committee Debate sittings so far, 21 April 2026, Column 229, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Ministerial reply.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

As I indicated during the Public Bill Committee debate on 24 March 2026, in response to points raised by the Hon. Member for Hamble Valley, I intend to write to him shortly with further details on issues relating to the duty for EROs to notify postal voters that their postal vote is due to expire. A copy of that correspondence will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as it has been issued.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to consider (a) a uniform publication of local election results by local authorities and (b) an official central repository of local election results.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government does not have any current plans to introduce a uniform approach to the publication of local election results by local authorities. Returning Officers are responsible for publishing election results in their local areas.

Regarding a central repository of local election results, the Government intends to take a power in the Representation of the People Bill 2026 to enable the Government or the Electoral Commission to collect election‑related information, including election results, from relevant officers responsible for the delivery of elections, referendums, petitions and electoral registration. The Government is working with the Electoral Commission to develop the use of this power in a way that improves the accessibility of election information for electors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of registers held by the Republic of Ireland’s Companies Registration Office in providing data and information for political parties and regulated donees in Northern Ireland to undertake (a) due diligence, (b) revenue and (c) person of significant control tests in relation to political donations made from companies based in the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland donees.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Representation of the People Bill introduces strengthened measures in relation to political donations, including enhanced checks on donor eligibility.

The Government is committed to maintaining the integrity and transparency of the UK's political finance regime and ensuring that new strengthened measures regarding political donations apply to donations that Northern Ireland parties receive from eligible Irish sources.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether virtual bank cards will be accepted as identification to vote at a polling station.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

I refer the Hon. Member to the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which sets out that only physical bank cards will be accepted at the polling station.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026, to Question 124766, on Electoral Register, and of 20 April 2026, to Question 124792, whether political parties will be consulted on the automatic registration pilots’ design; and what engagement has taken place to date with political parties.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Government has included powers in the Representation of the People Bill to enable the testing and introduction of new methods of registration. On the introduction of the Bill in February 2026, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote to shadow spokespeople across the House, with an invitation to meet, which followed a subsequent similar invitation in 2025.

As previously made clear, further details of any pilots will be set out in secondary legislation, which will be subject to the affirmative procedure. During the development of this work, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will continue to offer engagement with political parties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials have had discussions with the Labour Party on the Government's response to the Rycroft review.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

On the day the review was published, on 25 March 2026, the Secretary of State sent a letter to political party representatives setting out the government’s intention to immediately accept two of the recommendations via amendments to the Representation of the People Bill: (1) an annual £100,000 cap on total political donations and regulated transactions made by each overseas elector; and (2) a moratorium on political donations made using crypto assets, of any amount. These changes are intended to strengthen protections against foreign financial interference in UK democracy and to maintain confidence in the transparency and integrity of political donations.

The government has also had discussions with the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Parties Panel to seek their views on the recommendations made in the Rycroft Review and the practicalities around implementing them. All political parties with two or more sitting representatives in the House of Commons are members of this Panel.

The government is committed to responding formally and in full to the Rycroft Review in advance of the Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill. As part of this, the government will continue to engage across the sector, including with political parties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the laying of secondary legislation on the change to the postal vote application deadlines.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Secondary legislation intended to support the absent voting system will be laid following Royal Assent to the Representation of the People Bill. Subject to parliamentary time, it will be brought forward at the appropriate point to support the electoral timetable.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 118771 on Political Parties: Donors and the Answer of 8 April 2026 to Question 123199 on Political Parties: Finance, what consideration has been made by his Department of consulting with the House of Commons on the new due diligence requirements on donations to MPs.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The government is taking forward the new ‘Know Your Donor’ due diligence requirements through the Representation of the People Bill, which is currently being debated and scrutinised by Parliament. Members of both Houses therefore have the opportunity to consider and shape these measures as the Bill progresses.

Alongside this, the Electoral Commission will develop statutory guidance to support the implementation of the regime, working with the government and relevant stakeholders.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Suspicious Activity Reports received by the National Crime Agency in the 24 months preceding 25 March 2026 related to cryptocurrency transactions involving registered UK political parties or regulated donors.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

For confidentiality and operational security reasons, the National Crime Agency does not comment on individual Suspicious Activity Reports.

On 25 March, the Government published the Rycroft Review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The Government has taken forward the recommendation from the Review for a moratorium on the use of cryptoassets as political donations and plans to table amendments to the Representation of the People Bill so that any political donations made via cryptoassets from 25 March 2026 must be returned.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 March 2026, to Question 119947, on Money Laundering: Montenegro, whether any assessment has been made of whether laundered money from the West Balkans has entered the UK political system in the form of political donations or donations in kind.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Donations from individuals or organisations without a qualifying connection to the UK are prohibited.

Recipients of political donations are required to take all reasonable steps to check that donations come from permissible donors and to report donations above statutory thresholds to the Electoral Commission. It is a criminal offence to accept, facilitate or disguise an impermissible donation.

Following publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government set out steps to strengthen the UK’s political finance framework to address the risk of foreign financial interference, including through the Representation of the People Bill, which will introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets, and will strengthen donation rules across the regime, which remain subject to strict permissibility, transparency and enforcement requirements to ensure the true source of funds is identifiable and lawful.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission holds information on whether (a) Tether and (b) other types of cryptocurrency are being used to make political donations.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

To date, no cryptoasset donations have been reported to the Electoral Commission.

The UK Government has announced that it plans to introduce a moratorium on donations in crypto assets. The intention is for this to apply retrospectively to any donations received from 25 March 2026 onwards. These measures would be introduced as part of the Government’s Representation of the People Bill.

The Commission has provided advice to parties so that they can prepare for future changes to the law.

Found: Representation of the People Bill: progress of the bill

Compulsory voting and civic education

We call on the UK Government to give Cornish, Irish, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and BSL the same official language protections that exist in the constituent nations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Found: We are concerned that Amendment NC107 to the Representation of the People Bill could criminalise election

Found: One respondent also argued that, as 16- and 17-year-olds will be enfranchised by the Representation of the People Bill

Found: recommendations, and a head of Commons Rep ort Stage, the Government has tabled amendments to the Representation of the People Bill

Found: parties, to explain how we expect these measures to operate under our amendments to the Representation of the People Bill

Found: This will strengthen the rules already set out in the Representation of the People Bill, which outlines

Found: We have now published our landmark Representation of the People Bill and will progress it through Parliament

Found: We have now published our landmark Representation of the People Bill and will progress it through Parliament

Found:

Found: We do so ahead of the Commons Report Stage of the Representation of the People Bill because this Government

Found: We do so ahead of the Commons Report Stage of the Representation of the People Bill because this Government

Found: Bill • Pension Schemes Bill • Public Office (Accountability) Bill • Railways Bill • Representation of the People Bill

Found: and Local Government) • reforming devolution and voting, including introducing the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The debate on 2 July was especially apposite given the Government will bring the Representation of the People Bill

Found: One respondent also argued that, as 16- and 17-year-olds will be enfranchised by the Representation of the People Bill

Found: example of this is the memorandum lodged by the Scottish Government in relation to the Representation of the People Bill

Found: This meeting was an opportunity to hear an update on the UK Government’s Representation of the People Bill

Found: (Network and Information Systems) Bill, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Officials are also liaising with UK Government on the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which