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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the risk assessments on political donations in the Representation of the People Bill will apply to bequests where the donor has died.

Bequests are expressly recognised within the political finance regime. Where a bequest constitutes a donation under the relevant regime, it is treated as a political donation and subject to the relevant donation controls. Recipients must continue to comply with the existing statutory requirements for donations, including taking the steps required by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 to establish whether a donation is permissible before it can be accepted.

All recipients of political contributions above £11,180 (as a single donation or by aggregation from the same donor in the relevant reference period) including relevant donations, regulated transactions and bequests, will need to carry out a risk assessment as required by the Know Your Donor regime. The recipient remains responsible for satisfying itself that it has complied with the statutory requirements in electoral law before accepting that donation, having regard to Electoral Commission guidance where relevant.