To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance on (a) loans and (b) donations has been sent to regulated donees by the Electoral Commission in the last 12 months. (182799)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it published new guidance on donations for regulated donees in Northern Ireland in October 2007. The Commission wrote to all MPs, MEPs and MLAs representing Northern Ireland or Northern Ireland constituencies, setting out the broad scope of the donation controls and alerting them to publication of the guidance.

Additionally, it wrote to the Labour leadership and deputy leadership candidates in May 2007 and the Liberal Democrat leadership candidates in October 2007. These letters summarised the donees’ requirements to record, check permissibility and report in relation to both donations and loans.

The Commission regularly gives advice on request to regulated donees on particular issues related to loans and donations.