To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many allegations of misconduct by hon. and right hon. Members the Electoral Commission has received in the last five years; how many such allegations it investigated; how many such allegations were dismissed (a) following an investigation and (b) without an investigation having been held; what the cost was of the 10 most expensive such investigations; and what the average cost was of investigations. (228704)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it received 16 allegations of misconduct against hon. and right hon. Members in the last five years.

The Commission further informs me that it opened formal investigations into four of these allegations. One of the investigations is ongoing; one resulted in a referral to the police and is presently pending; and one resulted in a voluntary forfeiture of a donation. The other case was closed without further action being warranted.

The 12 remaining allegations were dismissed or otherwise resolved without the need for a formal investigation.

The Electoral Commission does not record expenditure in relation to individual investigations and is therefore unable to provide costs.