asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will clarify the statement made by the Leader of the House on 8th June 1995 (HL Deb., col. 1461) that "the rules are perfectly clear about when a government have to cease acting as a government".

During the period of a general election a government retains its responsibility to govern until such time as it loses its majority and resigns. However, by long-standing convention, governments restrict themselves to essential business during this period.It is never acceptable, during an election period or at any other time, for public funds to be used for party political purposes, as distinct from the legitimate presentation of government policies and decisions.