Hansard

General Elections (Deposits)

Volume 295: debated on Friday 6 June 1997

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Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce proposals to increase the deposit in general elections. [2471]

Mr. George Howarth

At this stage, we have no plans to increase the deposit for candidates at a parliamentary election.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the present sum the original £150 deposit for general elections introduced in 1918 would be if it had been increased in line with prices since that date; and what would be the equivalent percentage if the £500 deposit had been increased in line with prices since it was introduced. [2463]

Mr. Howarth

We estimate that the £150 deposit introduced in 1918 would now be equivalent to £4,093, if it had been increased in line with the inflation, which represents an 818.6 per cent. increase on the present deposit. The £500 deposit introduced in 1985 would be equivalent today to £825, an increase of 165 per cent. and £4,093 would represent an increase of 496 per cent. on that revalued deposit.