Recall of MPs Act 2015

Sponsorship

3 (1) For the purposes of this Schedule sponsorship is provided in relation to an accredited campaigner if—

(a) money or other property is transferred to the accredited campaigner or to any person for the benefit of the accredited campaigner, and

(b) the purpose (or one of the purposes) of the transfer is (or, having regard to all the circumstances, must reasonably be assumed to be)—

(i) to help the accredited campaigner with meeting, or to meet, to any extent, defined expenses incurred or to be incurred by or on behalf of the accredited campaigner, or

(ii) to secure that, to any extent, defined expenses are not incurred by or on behalf of the accredited campaigner.

(2) “Defined expenses” means expenses in connection with—

(a) a conference, meeting or other event organised by or on behalf of the accredited campaigner,

(b) the preparation, production or dissemination of any publication by or on behalf of the accredited campaigner, or

(c) study or research organised by or on behalf of the accredited campaigner.

(3) But the following do not constitute sponsorship for the purposes of this Schedule—

(a) the making of a payment in respect of a charge for admission to a conference, meeting or other event;

(b) the making of a payment in respect of the purchase price of, or any other charge for access to, any publication;

(c) the making of a payment in respect of the inclusion of an advertisement in any publication where the payment is made at a commercial rate.

(4) The Minister may by regulations amend sub-paragraph (2) or (3).

(5) Before making regulations under this paragraph the Minister must consult the Electoral Commission.

(6) Regulations under this paragraph are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

(7) In this paragraph “publication” means a publication made available in any form and by any means (whether or not to the public or any section of the public).