Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will take steps to investigate whether grants given by them to political parties have been used inappropriately, including for a criminal purpose.

Political parties with two or more sitting MPs are entitled to a share of the £2 million policy development grant, which is intended to assist parties in developing the policies that they will present in an election manifesto.

The Commission distributes these funds and checks carefully that the grant is spent on policy development activities. Parties have to report on their use of the funds and have that grant expenditure independently audited. If there is evidence of any misuse, the Commission will take appropriate action to safeguard public money. Any criminal offences are a matter for the police to investigate.