To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether restrictions apply to the staff of the Electoral Commission (a) joining political parties, (b) donating to political parties, (c) donating to registered third parties and (d) contributing to trade union political funds. (171471)

Under the terms of schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 any member of staff, except the chief executive, may be a member of a political party.

Under the Act, Electoral Commission staff are not permitted to make recordable donations to registered political parties or to recognised third parties.

The Electoral Commission informs me that there are no restrictions on its staff contributing to trade union political funds.