Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014

28 Changes to existing limits

(1) Section 94 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (limits on controlled expenditure by third parties) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (6).

(2) In subsection (3), for paragraph (a) (but not the “and” after it) substitute—

“(a) either—

(i) during a regulated period, any controlled expenditure is incurred in a part of the United Kingdom by or on behalf of a third party in excess of the limit for that part of the United Kingdom mentioned in subsection (5), or

(ii) during a regulated period in relation to which any limit is imposed by paragraph 3, 9, 10 or 11 of Schedule 10 (periods involving parliamentary general elections), any controlled expenditure is incurred in a particular parliamentary constituency by or on behalf of a third party in excess of the limit mentioned in subsection (5ZA),”.

(3) In subsection (5)—

(a) in the opening words, for “(3)” substitute “(3)(a)(i)”;

(b) in paragraph (a), for “£10,000” substitute “£20,000”;

(c) in paragraph (b), for “£5,000” substitute “£10,000.”

(4) After subsection (5) insert—

“(5ZA) The limit referred to in subsection (3)(a)(ii) is 0.05% of the total of the maximum campaign expenditure limits in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

(5) In subsection (5A) for “(5)” substitute “(5ZA)”.

(6) In subsection (10), omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (c) and after paragraph (d) insert—

“(e) the “maximum campaign expenditure limit” in a part of the United Kingdom is the limit imposed by paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 in relation to campaign expenditure incurred in the relevant period (within the meaning of that paragraph) by or on behalf of a registered party which contests all the constituencies in that part (and to which sub-paragraph (6) of that paragraph does not apply).”

(7) In Schedule 10 to that Act (limits on controlled expenditure by recognised third parties), in paragraph 3(2), for paragraphs (a) to (d) substitute—

“(a) in relation to England, 2% of the maximum campaign expenditure limit in England;

(b) in relation to Scotland, £20,000 plus 2% of the maximum campaign expenditure limit in Scotland;

(c) in relation to Wales, £20,000 plus 2% of the maximum campaign expenditure limit in Wales;

(d) in relation to Northern Ireland, £20,000 plus 2% of the maximum campaign expenditure limit in Northern Ireland.”