Political Parties: Finance

To ask the hon. Member for South- West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1084W, on political parties: finance, what stage the Electoral Commission's research into the operation of the political levy and political fund has reached; and whether the Electoral Commission has met (a) the Certification Officer for Great Britain and (b) the Northern Ireland Certification Officer in the course of its research. (324626)

The Electoral Commission informs me that, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 1149W, its research was limited to the legislative framework and information on how the political levy and political funds currently operate. The Commission completed this work in 2008.

The Commission further informs me that Commission staff met staff of the Certification Officer for Great Britain in the course of the research but that there were no equivalent meetings with staff of the Certification Officer for Northern Ireland.