Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether ending the anonymity of political donations to parties in Northern Ireland was discussed with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) before the deal was signed between the Government and the DUP on 26 June 2017; and if he will make a statement.

The terms of the deal between the Conservative party and the DUP have been set out in the agreement.

The rules about transparency of political donations are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The Government intends to bring forward legislation to extend transparency that already exists for political parties in Great Britain to also cover donations and loans received by Northern Ireland parties on or after 1 July 2017.