Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance or advice has the Electoral Commission provided on whether the provision by a third party of opinion polling for use by a political party, is a declarable donation in kind by that political party, and whether such donations should be from permissible donors.

The provision of polling is not specifically covered in the Commission’s guidance.

However, the guidance is clear that any services provided to a party other than on commercial terms will be a donation if it is worth over £500. In these circumstances a donation would need to come from a permissible source.