Overview

This bill, the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, seeks to increase transparency in political lobbying, non-party campaigning, and trade union administration. Key amendments relate to the definition of "controlled expenditure" in relation to political campaigning, specifically focusing on how to attribute spending to particular constituencies and what types of expenses should be included in the calculation.

Description

The bill primarily focuses on amending existing legislation, particularly the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Significant disagreements between the House of Lords and the House of Commons center around:

Special Advisers

Amendments concern the inclusion of special advisors in regulations related to transparency of communications with government. The Commons seeks to clarify the definition and scope of their inclusion.

Third-Party Constituency Expenditure

The main area of contention involves defining and attributing "third-party constituency expenditure." The Lords proposed a narrower definition, focusing on election material and unsolicited calls with effects largely confined to specific constituencies. The Commons disagreed, arguing for a broader scope to include more types of expenditure.

Staff Costs

Disagreement exists on whether to exclude background staff costs from the definition of "controlled expenditure". The Lords sought to exclude such costs, while the Commons argued they should be included.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly allocate new government spending. The impact on government spending will be indirect, potentially through increased administrative costs associated with enforcing the amended transparency requirements and resolving disputes arising from the changes in the legislation. No specific figures are available from the provided text.

Groups Affected

• Special Advisers: Their communication with government will be subject to greater scrutiny.
• Third Parties Engaging in Political Campaigning: These groups will be affected by changes to the definition of "controlled expenditure" and how their spending is attributed to constituencies. They may face increased compliance burdens.
• Trade Unions: The bill may affect their administrative processes, particularly regarding transparency.
• Government Departments: These departments will bear the responsibility for enforcing the legislation, potentially leading to increased administrative costs.
• Electoral Commission: The commission will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the changes and ensuring compliance with the amended regulations.

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