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

Found: The Representation of the People Bill is a major step forward for our democracy.

Found: independently and in secret. 2.4 Despite the stated aim of modernising electoral law, the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Whilst the government’s new Representation of the People Bill does make many improvements to the current

Found: The Representation of the People Bill introduces further protections against foreign interference, improves

Found: came from unknown or questionable sources.1 1.4 We therefore welcome measures in the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The NYA strongly welcomes the Representation of the People Bill and has long advocated for Votes at

Found: We welcome relevant proposals in the Representation of the People Bill, including: ● (i) The introduction

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

Found: Though the Representation of the People Bill has taken some ambitious steps to improve our democracy

Found: operating in the UK if they themselves generate substantial profits here. 2.3 The Representation of the People Bill

Found: this committee, political parties, DHCLG and the Electoral Commission once the current Representation of the People Bill

Found: analysis of subsequent developments such as the Rycroft Review and the publication of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: As set out in our evidence to the Representation of the People Bill, here and here, these outcomes

Found: campaigns for a vibrant, inclusive democracy and has expertise on many aspects of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Proportional Representation (PR) must be a part of the Representation of the People Bill.

Found: strong support for the introduction of Proportional Representation (PR) as part of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: I support the changes introduced in the Representation of the People Bill but wish to comment on just

Found: The Representation of the People Bill currently going through parliament gives the perfect opportunity

Found: Nonetheless the tabling of the Representation of the People Bill offers hope that, at this critical

Found: Merricks [MEL 053] Introduction This response welcomes the opportunity presented by the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Written evidence submitted by Mr David Bartels [MEL 050] Modernising Elections Inquiry / Representation of the People Bill

Found: While the other provisions discussed for the Representation of the People Bill are absolutely welcome

Found: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/representation-of-the-people-bill-policy- summaries/votes-at

Found: ://natcen.ac.uk/low-trust-governments-drives-growing-demand-electoral-reform. as the Representation of the People Bill

Found: electoral administration, and promoting greater trust and transparency in elections. 29.The Representation of the People Bill

Found: Representation of the People Bill I write in a private capacity as a retired town planner and urban designer

Found: democracy in the UK” and our concerns that, due to its current restricted scope, the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Internally, I proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Bill regarding the impact of

Found: reading 16th September 2025), Railways Bill (first reading 5th November 2025), and the Representation of the People Bill

Found: that we have been recommending, and we tried to put forward as an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Expenditure totalling £10,500,000 under section E is subject to the passage of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Notwithstanding what you have all just said, does the Representation of the People Bill meet that ambition

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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, 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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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, 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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 (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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 (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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the answer of 25 March 2026, to Question 121726, on Political Parties: Finance, if he will publish the analysis undertaken by the Commission on the impact of a profit test on the sustainability of political party funding; and whether political parties were consulted.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

To inform its consideration of the potential impact of a profit test for company donations, the Commission analysed publicly available data about donations reported by political parties and company accounts published by Companies House. The Commission will continue to seek input from political parties to inform the development of its recommendations, including through the statutory Parliamentary Parties Panel. It will also continue to provide evidence-based advice on political finance ahead of the parliamentary debates on the Representation of the People Bill.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the National Crime Agency has received any Suspicious Activity Reports relating to (a) cryptocurrency donations to UK politicians or (b) donations to UK politicians from individuals with cryptocurrency assets.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (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 accepted 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, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with political parties on the Rycroft review recommendations since the Rycroft report was published.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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 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 received correspondence from parties in response to the Secretary of State’s letter and look forward to discussing the issues raised 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 estimate he has made of the proportion of adults without photographic identification.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Research by Verian, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, found that 2-4% of the 18+ UK population do not own an accepted form of identification that would enable them to vote in person at a polling station.

The Government believes the current Voter ID rules are too restrictive. We are therefore bringing forward changes, as part of the Representation of the People Bill, to allow the use of UK-authorised in-date bank cards as identification at polling stations in Great Britain. This will allow a greater proportion of electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements. The Verian research found that, with the introduction of this new measure, the proportion of the 18+ UK population without a form of accepted ID would fall to less than 1%.

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 improve access to photographic identification.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Research by Verian, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, found that 2-4% of the 18+ UK population do not own an accepted form of identification that would enable them to vote in person at a polling station.

The Government believes the current Voter ID rules are too restrictive. We are therefore bringing forward changes, as part of the Representation of the People Bill, to allow the use of UK-authorised in-date bank cards as identification at polling stations in Great Britain. This will allow a greater proportion of electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements. The Verian research found that, with the introduction of this new measure, the proportion of the 18+ UK population without a form of accepted ID would fall to less than 1%.

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 Hon Member for Chester North and Neston in the eight sitting of the Representation of the People Bill Committee, 16 April 2026, col 359, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of drafting and publishing a report assessing a range of options to support postal voting for overseas electors.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department has not made a specific estimate of the cost of drafting and publishing such a report. As set out during the Representation of the People Bill Committee, the Government considers that the issues raised have already been extensively examined.

In the 2025 policy paper, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, the Government set out a package of measures intended to improve the resilience and responsiveness of the postal voting system overall. These measures include moving the postal vote application, and candidate nomination deadlines earlier in the electoral timetable. This will provide more time for the production, distribution and return of postal vote packs. These changes will benefit all administrators and voters, including those living overseas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish his Department's review on deadlines and practices relating to the dispatching of postal ballots.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - 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 the 2025 policy paper, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections the Government set out a package of proposals intended to improve the overall resilience and responsiveness of postal voting. 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. This package of measures is now being delivered as part of the Representation of the People Bill 2026.

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 correspondence entitled Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, dated 25 March 2026, whether an impact assessment has been made on the two measures, including assymetric effects on political parties.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government wrote to political party representatives to set out the immediate steps being taken to strengthen the UK’s political finance framework to address the risk of foreign financial interference.

The Government announced its intention to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets. Further policy detail will be set out as we bring forward these policies as amendments to 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 his Department's flowchart entitled Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, if he will amend the thresholds so they are in line with the Electoral Commission guidance entitled Political party donations and loans in Great Britain, published on 21 November 2023.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance.

In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation.

Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

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 department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, and to the statement the company or LLP donating will need to have demonstrated making sufficient revenue in the three years prior to the year in which the donation is received to justify its donation, whether companies which are less than three years old will be permitted to make political donations.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance.

In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation.

Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

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 department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, through what mechanism will political parties be able to ascertain the past and current revenues of (a) small companies and (b) micro-entities, given the lack of profit and loss data in Companies House accounts.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance.

In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation.

Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

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 Department's document entitled Political donations overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, and to the statement that if the company is majority owned by another company, it will not pass this requirement, whether such a provision would still apply if the other company was itself permissible.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance.

In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation.

Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

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 Department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, through what mechanism political parties will be able to ascertain the past and current revenues of unlimited companies, given the lack of information on Companies House.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance.

In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation.

Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

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 16 March 2026, to Question 118666, on Elections: Pilot Schemes, what the provisional budget is for pilot schemes in May 2026.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance.

In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation.

Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

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 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether cash, debit and credit cards issued by a foreign bank, not regulated or based in the United Kingdom, and based in a foreign currency, will be accepted as proof of identity.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 provides that only bank cards issued by UK‑regulated or authorised issuers will be accepted as voter identification. Consequently, cards issued by foreign banks that are not regulated or authorised in the UK, will not be able to be used.

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 factsheet entitled Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, how political parties should establish the audited revenues of small and micro-companies, and unlimited companies, under the new proposed corporate political donation regime.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In terms of small, micro, and unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, including small businesses, will need to meet strict new criteria in order to make political donations. Requiring donors to demonstrate a genuine UK connection is key in protecting against foreign actors from using shell companies to channel foreign or illicit money into 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 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether bank cards issued in (a) Iran, (b) Pakistan and (c) China will be accepted as identification.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 provides that only bank cards issued by UK‑regulated or authorised issuers will be accepted as voter identification. Consequently, cards issued by foreign banks that are not regulated or authorised in the UK, will not be able to be used.

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 Department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the new corporate donation rules on the ability of all political parties to raise corporate sponsorship at their annual party political conferences.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In terms of small, micro, and unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation.

As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, including small businesses, will need to meet strict new criteria in order to make political donations. Requiring donors to demonstrate a genuine UK connection is key in protecting against foreign actors from using shell companies to channel foreign or illicit money into UK politics.

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 Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, of 25 March 2026, for what reason the legislation will be introduced on a retrospective basis.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the government announced its intention to act upon two key recommendations from that Review, to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets.

We are applying these rule changes retrospectively, to ensure malign actors aren’t able to funnel illegitimate money into UK politics in advance of the change in law.

The government will be introducing these measures by amendment to the Representation of the People Bill where there will be sufficient opportunity to scrutinise and debate the proposals.

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 11 March 2026 to Question 117657 on Constituencies, whether his Department has assessed the potential asymmetric effect on parliamentary boundary reviews of rolling out automatic registration in different geographical areas to different timetables.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The sole aim of moving towards automated registration, as set out in the Representation of the People Bill, is to increase the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will test automated registration in a range of different locations and settings, with different characteristics and challenges. We will be guided throughout by principles of fairness and open engagement.

The Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are independent of Government. The timings of Parliamentary Boundary Reviews are set by legislation, which the Government has no plans to change.

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 correspondence entitled Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, dated 25 March 2026, what steps his Department is taking to prevent overseas funding being channelled through the Republic of Ireland.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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, including for donations linked to Ireland, which remain subject to strict permissibility, transparency and enforcement requirements to ensure the true source of funds is identifiable and lawful.

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 Department's factsheet entitled Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, whether the new provisions on (a) crypto-currency, (b) overseas, (c) company and (d) due diligence donations will apply to donations to hon. Members.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Existing controls on political donations apply to Members of Parliament. The reforms we are making to political donation rules through the Representation of the People Bill will also apply to Members of Parliament.

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 13 March 2026, to Question 117888, on Candidates, whether election agents who do not have a dedicated office address, will still be required to publish their home address, given the continuing policy on not allowing PO Box addresses.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Through the Representation of the People Bill, the Government will allow all agents, including candidates acting as their own agent, to provide an alternative correspondence address instead of their home address.

Election agents may use a PO Box as a correspondence address. However, they are still required to provide an office address at which legal documents may be served. Under UK Civil Procedure Rules, this office address cannot be a PO Box. It is the responsibility of individual agents to ensure that they have a suitable office address.

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 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether bank cards which only have a first name initial, such as “S.Dixon”, will be accepted as identification in polling stations; and whether the card must have a honorific to indicate the sex of the card holder.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which provides that bank cards must show either the elector’s first and last name or first initial and last name to be accepted as Voter ID. Bank cards will not be required to display an honorific to be accepted as Voter ID.

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 Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, of 25 March 2026, why political parties were not consulted on the two policies before they were announced.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government announced its intention to act upon two key recommendations from that Review, to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets.

The review and its recommendations were informed by engagement with a range of stakeholders, including political parties.

The Government will be introducing these measures by amendment to the Representation of the People Bill where there will be sufficient opportunity to scrutinise and debate the proposals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he intends to consult on the implementation of Automatic Voter Registration.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has included powers in the Representation of the People Bill to enable the testing and introduction of new methods of registration. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will continue to consult with a range of relevant stakeholders to ensure that any changes to the registration process are based on robust evidence, user research and thorough testing.

During the development of this work, the Government has worked closely with the Electoral Commission, the Association of Electoral Administrators, local authorities, devolved governments and civil society organisations. We will also 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, with reference to the revenue test being introduced for political donations from companies, what assessment has been made of the effect on the ability of political parties with holding companies with low or no trading income, to bequest property or investment assets to other party accounting units or to the central party.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revenue test will form part of the donor permissibility requirements for companies and limited liability partnerships under provisions included in the Representation of the People Bill. It will apply to the donating entity for the purposes of determining whether a donation is permissible. Companies that do not make sufficient revenue to fund their donation will not be eligible.

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 Written Statement of 25 March 2026 on Report from the Independent Review into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics, HCWS1459, what consultation he will undertake with political parties on these proposed measures.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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. Individuals and organisations were able to submit evidence to the review. 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 cryptoassets, 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.

Regarding the other recommendations, 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 advance of Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill.

The government will continue to engage with political parties and other stakeholders on 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 17 March 2026, to Question 118887, on Voting Rights, and to Question 118889, on Political Parties: Finance, whether the same residency tests will apply to the owners/directors of companies wishing to make donations.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Representation of the People Bill makes clear the new tests that will apply in respect of political donations made by companies.

The company must be majority owned or controlled by registered UK electors, or UK citizens usually resident in the UK.

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

Found: The Representation of the People Bill is expected to be reintroduced as a carry-over bill.

Found: Representation of the People Bill: Policy summaries

Found: Representation of the People Bill: Policy summaries

Found: Representation of the People Bill: Policy summaries

Found: Representation of the People Bill: Policy summaries

Found: Representation of the People Bill: Policy summaries

Found: Expenditure totalling £10,500,000 under section E is subject to the passage of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: Expenditure totalling £10,500,000 under section E is subject to the passage of the Representation of the People Bill

Found: The new plan is called the Representation of the People Bill 2026.

Found: The recently introduced Representation of the People Bill will go some way to deal with these problems

Found: .................................................................................49 Representation of the People Bill

Found: ................................................................................. 49 Representation of the People Bill

Found: ............................................................................... 49 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: welcomed the Philip Rycroft review into foreign interference and the publication of the Representation of the People Bill